CBSA efforts to disrupt extortion networks led to over 100 removals

CBSA efforts to disrupt extortion networks led to over 100 removals

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) continues to take action against individuals with suspected links to extortion activities, working with law enforcement partners across Canada to identify, investigate, and remove those who are inadmissible under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).

Through joint enforcement efforts nationwide, the CBSA supports a coordinated response to extortion. The agency investigates foreign nationals who may be in violation of IRPA, including those engaged in criminal and organized crime activities, such as extortion. These investigations are built on information from law enforcement partners, other government agencies, CBSA-led investigations, and public reporting. The CBSA places the highest priority on enforcement and removal of cases involving criminality, organized crime and individuals who pose a risk to public safety.  

The CBSA dedicated resources to investigating cases with potential links to extortion in the Pacific and Prairie regions in August 2025, and expanded the initiative to the Greater Toronto Area in November 2025.

As of September 3, 2026, 188 removal orders have been issued on various inadmissibility grounds, and 111 individuals have been removed from Canada. These figures can be further broken down by region:

Four recent cases illustrate CBSA’s ongoing efforts to identify and remove individuals linked to extortion and organized criminal schemes in Canada: