Alberta funds police crackdown on organized crime targeting South Asians
The province is sending $8 million to four police forces to tackle extortion and intimidation in the South Asian community.
Alberta is investing $8 million in law enforcement to crack down on organized crime and extortion targeting the South Asian community across the province.
The funding splits four ways: Edmonton and Calgary police each get $2.24 million; Alberta RCMP receives $2 million; and ALERT (the provincial law enforcement agency) gets $1.5 million.
"No single agency can tackle this threat alone," said Mike Ellis, Alberta's minister of public safety and emergency services. "Families, businesses, communities deserve to live without fear of extortion, intimidation and violence."
The announcement comes as organized crime networks have increasingly targeted South Asian-owned businesses and residents with extortion schemes. The coordinated funding signals a province-wide approach to an issue that has stretched police resources and community trust.