Calgary and Alberta’s organized crime rate is growing, especially against the South Asian population, which has prompted the provincial government’s allocation of more funds to support law enforcement in tackling these investigations.
During a media availability on the morning of May 28, the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services, Mike Ellis, announced that the funding would be divided between the four services responding to cases like these.
“These investments will support law enforcement at the municipal and the provincial levels in acquiring the specialized tools and equipment that they need to better investigate and dismantle organized criminal networks, families, and businesses,” he said.
“They deserve to live without the fear of extortion, intimidation, and violence.”
In addition to this, Ellis said that the Alberta government has lobbied for the federal government to have the Bishnoi Gang — an India-based criminal group tied to extortion, among other violent offences — officially declared as a terrorist organization.
According to the Government of Canada’s list, the group was first listed in September 2025, but remains under review. Ellis emphasized that the province will continue to advocate for and support efforts to alleviate this, saying that “organized crime has no place in Alberta.”
“It’s structured, it’s deliberate, it’s coordinated, and with illegal and often violent activity carried out systematically by sophisticated networks,” he said.
“Those behind these crimes are operating in the shadows, orchestrating activity online or through a web of faceless criminals preying on vulnerable people, but the impacts are anything but hidden.”
Investment will ‘make a real difference,’ says CPS Chief
This investment joins the pre-determined $19 million toward provincial policing. The organizations receiving this funding include the Alberta RCMP, the Alberta Law Enforcement Response Team (ALERT), the Edmonton Police Service, and the Calgary Police Service (CPS).
CPS Chief Katie McLellan said that Calgary police’s $2.24 million share will go toward improving the service’s intelligence systems and digital forensic tools, thereby amplifying its ability to track offenders and disrupt criminal networks.
“This helps us keep pace with increasingly coordinated and dangerous threats,” she said.
“The seriousness of this has increased, reinforcing the need for a coordinated, intelligence-led approach.”
Ellis said that since April 2025, there have been 44 extortion incidents in Calgary, and that there are currently 28 extortion incidents being investigated in the city, two of which involved shootings. To date, 11 individuals have been charged.
Chairman of northeast Calgary’s Dashmesh Culture Centre, Ranbir Singh Parmar, said that Calgary’s South Asian community has been repeatedly victimized by this type of organized crime, and that these efforts will be appreciated.
“For the past couple of years, our community has been targeted by ruthless extortion networks,” he said.
“Hardworking businesses, business owners, and families who came to Alberta for a safe life, but [are] suddenly living in fear.”
Chief McLellan closed with a clear message for offenders and a promise to residents.
“There is no place for extortion or violent crime in our community,” said McLellan.
“We will pursue those responsible relentlessly, using every available tool with the priority of stopping harm, protecting victims, and bringing offenders to justice.”
