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<\/p>\nMinister of Finance and National Revenue Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne talks law enforcement in Mississauga. (CPAC image)<\/p>\n
Saying \u201cenough is enough,\u201d federal Minister Fran\u00e7ois-Philippe Champagne says more sophisticated resources will be used to crack down on extortion crimes at criminal hotspots across Canada.<\/p>\n
Champagne, Minister of Finance and National Revenue, was in Mississauga today to announce that financial tracking technology will be used to follow the money trail of extortionists who have been terrorizing business owners and the wealthy in Brampton, Mississauga and other parts of the country.<\/p>\n
The federal government initiative will see the resources of the Financial Transactions and Reports Analysis Centre of Canada (FINTRAC) deployed to gain intelligence on criminals through Canadian banks, credit unions, and financial service providers of virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies. This will enable law enforcement to receive more timely and relevant financial intelligence to identify criminal networks and how they launder extortion proceeds.<\/p>\n
\u201cEnough is enough. We are going to make the lives of criminals miserable,\u201d said Champagne.<\/p>\n
As part of the program, FINTRAC will embed dedicated liaison officers to work directly with local law enforcement in the most affected areas, such as Peel Regional Police and law enforcement in British Columbia and Alberta. These officers will provide specialized financial intelligence expertise, strengthen information sharing, and ensure financial intelligence is supporting enforcement efforts, investigations, and prosecutions.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor too many Canadian individuals and businesses, extortion is a reality of everyday life \u2014 one that brings fear, intimidation, and harm to communities and families alike and that undermines Canadians\u2019 sense of safety,\u201d he said. \u201cThese crimes are typically carried out by organized networks operating across borders and using digital platforms. That\u2019s why coordinated action between governments, law enforcement, and financial institutions is essential and at the heart of today\u2019s announcement.<\/p>\n
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The minister said he is confident the program will lead to more arrests and break the criminal network, but he promised if it doesn\u2019t work, more will be done.<\/p>\n
Brampton and Mississauga have been a hotbed for extortionists who typically operate in the South Asian community, targeting businesses and wealthy individuals by demanding cash. If the victims don\u2019t pay up, they experience threats, including unwanted visitors who shoot up their homes and businesses.<\/p>\n
Many Brampton residents report that gunfire is heard nightly and is so frequent that it often goes unreported, as victims believe police alone are not equipped to deal with the extensive crime wave.<\/p>\n
In Brampton and Mississauga, the number of extortion-related crimes has spiked since 2020, with 490 crimes reported in 2024. There was a slight drop-off in extortion incidents in 2025, but the number of businesses targeted continues to climb, with nearly 200 incidents reported so far in 2025.<\/p>\n
In Surrey, B.C., the police department has indicated that foreign students, struggling to make ends meet, have been accepting payments to carry out the threats on behalf of the extortion gangs. Surrey Police has subsequently recorded several videos, some in Punjabi, warning students of the dangers of joining organized crime networks.<\/p>\n