British Columbia Archives - National Times

12 May

Surrey Police Continue Search for Missing Man After Vehicle Found Near Duffey Lake Road

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey( Rajeev Sharma): Surrey Police Service says concern is growing for missing 29-year-old Francisco Concha Martinez, who has not been seen or heard from since May 5, 2026. Police confirmed that Francisco’s last contact with family was also on May 5. Investigators later located his grey 2026 Mazda CX-30 on May 10 along Duffey Lake Road, approximately 50 kilometres outside Pemberton, B.C., prompting a wider search effort in the area. Francisco is described as a Hispanic male, 5-foot-5, weighing approximately 154 pounds, with black hair, a partial beard, and a slim build. Surrey Police are now asking anyone who may…

12 May

Surrey Police Chief Responds to Shootings, Says Gang Enforcement Remains a Priority

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Trending

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): Police chief Norm Lipinski says recent shootings in Surrey are “deeply concerning” and reaffirmed that addressing gang violence and organized crime remains a top priority for the Surrey Police Service (SPS). In a detailed statement following recent violent incidents, Chief Lipinski said SPS temporarily reassigned its eight-member Gang Crime Unit to help tackle an unprecedented extortion crisis targeting businesses across Surrey and to manage pressures caused by the accelerated police transition from the RCMP to SPS. He clarified that the decision was made to respond to immediate public safety threats and “not to diminish gang enforcement.” According…

08 May

Surrey Shooting Sparks Major Police Crackdown on Violent Extortion Network

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma): — A 27-year-old man has been arrested and charged after shots were fired at an occupied Surrey home in the early hours of April 13, 2026. According to the Surrey Police Service, officers responded around 2:52 a.m. to reports of gunfire near 94A Avenue and 127 Street. Bullets struck the residence while several people were inside, though no injuries were reported. The investigation was taken over by the SPS Extortion Response Team (ExRT), which identified a suspect vehicle and later executed a search warrant with support from the Lower Mainland District Emergency Response Team. Police identified…

06 May

EXPLOSIVE 2,400% SPIKE IN EXTORTION CASES IN SURREY: SPS URGES PUBLIC TO COME FORWARD AS CASES SURPASS 2025 TOTALS EARLY

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma): The Surrey Police Service (SPS) has reported a dramatic surge in extortion-related investigations, internally tracked under its “South Asian Series” classification, with cases rising by 2,400% in the first quarter of 2026 compared to the same period in 2025. Police say extortion in Surrey has seen a significant increase, particularly targeting members of the South Asian business community. As of late April 2026, SPS reported 91 extortion cases already this year, compared to 133 total cases recorded throughout all of 2025, indicating a sharp early-year escalation. The reported incidents include threats, intimidation, and financial extortion attempts…

06 May

DAYLIGHT SHOOTING IN SURREY OFFICE DISTRICT UNDER ACTIVE IHIT INVESTIGATION; NO ARRESTS MADE

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingSurrey

Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma): — A daylight shooting at a busy office complex at 13049 76 Avenue has left one man dead, with no suspects in custody and an active investigation underway. The Integrated Homicide Investigation Team (IHIT) has identified the victim only as a man in his 30s. He was at work on the second floor of the complex when the shooting occurred. IHIT says the investigation is in its early stages but believes the incident was targeted. Police are working closely with the victim’s family to establish a timeline leading up to the shooting. Authorities confirmed the victim…

06 May

DAYLIGHT SHOOTING SHOCKS SURREY, POLICE ‘STRETCHED,’ SAYS LINDA ANNIS

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingLinda Annis, Surrey

Surrey ( Rajeev Sharma) : A deadly daytime shooting in Surrey has once again raised alarm over public safety, with Linda Annis warning that the city’s police force is under growing pressure. Annis said the transition to the Surrey Police Service now in its eighth year has faced delays that have slowed recruitment and left officers stretched as violent incidents and extortion cases increase. She also criticized Mayor Brenda Locke over past decisions, including halting hiring and reducing the police budget. Highlighting a significant gap, Annis noted Surrey has about 800 officers compared to nearly 1,400 in Vancouver, despite similar…

05 May

Canada Deports Suspect Linked to Surrey Extortion Network, Police Release Image

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingCanada, Surrey

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): A 20-year-old man of Punjabi origin has been expelled from Canada after being linked to an alleged extortion racket operating in Surrey, officials confirmed. The action follows his earlier arrest as part of a broader investigation into rising cases of intimidation and violence in the region. The suspect, identified as Prabhjot Singh, had come under the scanner of the Surrey Police Service earlier this year. Authorities claim he was involved in activities connected to threats and coercion targeting local businesses and residents. After his arrest, immigration authorities stepped in. The Canada Border Services Agency reviewed his status…

03 May

Gunfire Reported Near Kapil Sharma-Linked Café in Surrey, Probe Intensifies

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Entertainment, TrendingKapil Sharma

Surrey (Rajeev Sharma): Authorities in Surrey are investigating a fresh shooting incident reported near a café associated with comedian Kapil Sharma, raising renewed concerns over safety in the area. The incident took place along 120 Street, where multiple eateries, including the popularly known Caps Café, are located. While gunshots were reported in the vicinity, officials have not yet confirmed whether the café itself was the intended target. Police teams swiftly reached the spot, sealing off the area as part of standard protocol. Surveillance footage from nearby establishments is being examined to identify suspects and reconstruct the sequence of events. A…

27 Apr

Conservatives Escalate Attack on Federal Spending, Vow to End ‘Credit Card Budgets’

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, TrendingCanada

Toronto (Rajeev Sharma): Senior Conservative leaders, led by Pierre Poilievre, delivered a pointed critique of federal fiscal policy during a political announcement in Toronto, positioning economic management and affordability at the centre of their agenda. The event was attended by Jasraj Singh Hallan, Tim Uppal, and Sandra Cobena, reflecting a coordinated effort by Conservative representatives to highlight concerns over rising government expenditures and increasing deficits. During the address, party leaders strongly criticized the current fiscal trajectory, linking it to policies associated with Mark Carney. They argued that, excluding the extraordinary circumstances of the COVID-19 pandemic, Canada is now facing one…

15 Apr

Decade of Drug Deaths: Canada Faces Deepening Crisis as Punjab Battles Smaller but Persistent Challenge

Rajeev Sharma0 CommentsBritish Columbia, Canada, Punjab, TrendingCanada, Punjab

Chandigarh/British Columbia (Gurpreet Singh/Rajeev Sharma): A decade-long comparison of overdose fatalities reveals a striking disparity between Canada and Punjab, with Canada confronting a far more extensive and deadly drug epidemic. Since 2016, when British Columbia declared a public health emergency over rising overdose deaths, the country has lost approximately 18,000 people to drug-related causes. The province continues to remain at the centre of the crisis, marking the 10-year milestone with remembrance events and renewed calls for stronger interventions. Community groups such as Moms Stop the Harm and Doctors for Safer Drug Policy have organised public gatherings, awareness drives, and discussions…