RCMP Arrest 5 Foreign Nationals for Alleged Extortion, Fire Bombings in BC

The RCMP have arrested five foreign nationals and charged them with alleged extortion and attacks—including fire bombings and shootings—on a business with outlets in two British Columbia communities.

Langley RCMP began an investigation in June 2025 after co-owners of an auto dealership reported that they had been the victims of “significant extortion demands.” The co-owners also reported that their businesses in Surrey and Langley were targeted via arson and shootings.

“This underscores the serious nature of the threats and the violence associated with this criminal activity,” the RCMP said in an Oct. 2 news release.

The RCMP said the investigation was a team effort that included operations in Canada and around the world. The agency noted that investigators identified several people allegedly involved in extortion, trafficking prohibited firearms, and trafficking controlled substances.

Policing agencies eventually arrested Sanket Singla, 23, from India; Sahil, 24, from Surrey; Simranjeet Singh, 24, from Surrey; Harsh, 21, from Surrey; and Jagdeep Singh, 24, from Ottawa. On Oct. 1, the B.C. Prosecution Service laid 29 charges against the accused.

The RCMP said Singla was in India when investigators identified his alleged role in the matter and determined it was in the public interest for him to appear in court in Canada. The agency worked with several federal departments and agencies to allow Singla to enter Canada so they could arrest him.

The agency said Singla arrived on Oct. 1 in Toronto, where officers arrested him and placed him in custody, where he remains. Officers arrested the other four accused in Surrey, and the individuals are now in custody.

“I want to sincerely thank the victims for their courage in coming forward, their support throughout the investigation, and the trust they placed in us to thoroughly investigate this matter and bring it before the courts,” Supt. Harm Dosange, officer in charge of Langley RCMP, said in the news release.

The RCMP noted that the investigation led to officers seizing many dangerous items, including firearms, ammunition and magazines, and substances such as fentanyl, cocaine, and opium.

The investigation also found evidence indicating the possible involvement of other suspects in extortions and violent acts against communities in B.C. and Alberta, the RCMP said. The agency said it is working with its partners to support those investigations, which could lead to charges.

“These files are complex and resource intensive, and they often require specialized police resources in different roles to advance them,” Chief Supt. Duncan Pound, assistant district commander and operations officer for the Lower Mainland District, said in the news release.

Pound thanked several federal policing agencies for supporting the Langley detachment, since that assistance helped the team pursue other investigative leads and operational strategies that the detachment could not have done alone.

“This investigation demonstrates the importance of bringing partner agencies together in order to take full advantage of investigative opportunities as they arise,” he added.

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.