Combatting Extortion: Roles and Responsibilities
Backgrounder
Local, provincial, and federal law enforcement agencies work together to combat extortion through a coordinated, multi-level approach. They share intelligence, and align investigations and enforcement strategies to disrupt criminal networks targeting businesses and residents. This collaboration leverages federal resources and local expertise to ensure a comprehensive response that reduces the impact of organized crime and protects communities.
Local police
Local policing agencies —the Peel Regional Police in Brampton and Mississauga, and the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) in Caledon —lead community-level investigations into extortion. They manage victim support, and deploy specialized units for evidence gathering, interviews, risk management and mitigation, with the aim of identifying those responsible, laying charges and bringing cases before the courts.
Peel Regional Police: Extortion Task Force
Peel Regional Police launched a dedicated task force to address the rise of extortions in 2023 – providing rapid, community-level response, while leveraging intelligence and resources from provincial and federal partners, including the OPP, Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA). In addition, Peel Police have led targeted extortion investigations, such as Project Outsource and Project Sahara. Since then, the task force has evolved to include the Major Crime Task Force – which allows for a broader, sustained strategy focused on combatting extortions. The current team consists of 20-30 dedicated officers, supported by intelligence, analytical, and operational resources, with the ability to expand as threat levels evolve. More information is available at Extortions in Peel Region webpage.
Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO)
Criminal Intelligence Service Ontario (CISO), the provincial arm of the Criminal Intelligence Service Canada network, plays a critical role in collecting, analyzing, and sharing criminal intelligence across all policing levels. This enables proactive disruption of organized crime activities, including extortion, and supports joint-force operations throughout Ontario.
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
The RCMP leads transnational investigations and provides provincial policing in many regions. It coordinates intelligence nationally through the National Coordination and Support Team (NCST), which assists police across Canada in investigations into extortion and intimidation linked to organized crime. To strengthen federal law enforcement, Budget 2025 commits $1.8 billion over four years, including hiring 1,000 new RCMP personnel to increase investigative capacity and tackle serious criminal threats such as organized crime, cybercrime, and financial crimes.
Canada Border Services Agency
The CBSA facilitates the flow of legitimate travellers and trade across Canada's borders, ensuring national security and public safety. The Agency investigates and removes inadmissible foreign nationals that fail to comply with immigration legislation including those who are involved in transnational organized crime. Building on investments through Canada's Border Plan, Budget 2025 provides funding for 1,000 new CBSA officers across multiple frontline and operational functions. This investment enhances border management and enforcement capacity and strengthens the Agency's ability to detect, disrupt, and deter illegal activity, including the removal of foreign nationals who are inadmissible due to criminality.
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