近年來，加拿大卑詩省素里市（Surrey）的治安狀況明顯惡化，已不再只是零星的街頭犯罪問題，而是逐漸演變為結構性、系統性的安全危機。其中，針對南亞裔社區的暴力勒索與槍擊恐嚇事件快速增加，更讓當地居民與企業長期處於高度不安之中。這一波治安失控，並非單一原因造成，而是跨國犯罪、移民制度漏洞、警政轉型期混亂，以及特定社群結構等多重因素交織的結果。

在所有原因之中，跨國黑幫勢力的滲透與坐大，被普遍認為是素里治安急遽惡化的核心因素。以Lawrence Bishnoi黑幫為代表的印度跨國犯罪組織，近年來被發現已將勢力延伸至加拿大，並在素里建立起相對穩定的運作網絡。根據警方與媒體揭露，僅在2025年，素里市就記錄超過132起勒索企圖，其中將近四成涉及實彈開槍作為威嚇手段。這類犯罪並非臨時起意，而是高度組織化的行動。黑幫成員透過WhatsApp等即時通訊軟體，直接鎖定南亞裔企業主、地主或經濟條件優渥的家庭，要求支付所謂的「保護費」，金額從5萬加幣到50萬加幣不等。一旦對方拒絕或拖延，隨即出現駕車掃射店面、住宅，或縱火警告的情況，藉由公開暴力製造寒蟬效應。

更具爭議性的是，這些黑幫活動背後還牽涉到複雜的國際政治因素。加拿大皇家騎警在 2026 年公開指出，有跡象顯示部分印度黑幫成員可能並非單純的犯罪行為者，而是疑似在印度政府默許甚至指使下，於海外對支持錫克教獨立運動（Khalistan）的個人與社群進行恐嚇、施壓甚至暴力攻擊。這使得原本屬於地方治安層級的問題，上升為涉及外交、國安與跨國執法的高度敏感議題，也進一步增加了處理難度。

另一方面，加拿大現行的移民與司法制度漏洞，也在客觀上削弱了對犯罪的震懾力。警方指出，不少被招募執行暴力任務的年輕人，是持學生簽證、臨時簽證，甚至已逾期居留的外籍人士。他們往往因經濟壓力、身分不穩定或社會邊緣化，而成為黑幫眼中成本低、風險可控的「工具人」。即便部分人員被警方逮捕，由於加拿大難民申請、上訴與遣返程序長期積壓，案件往往一拖數年，犯罪嫌疑人得以在司法程序中長期滯留，實際上削弱了法律的即時威嚇效果，也讓黑幫更有恃無恐。

警政體系本身的轉型期混亂，也被視為治安惡化的重要背景因素之一。素里市近年正處於從加拿大皇家騎警全面過渡至素里警察局（Surrey Police Service, SPS）的關鍵階段。在此過程中，警力配置、情報共享、指揮權責與社區警政銜接，都一度出現磨合不良的情況。這種制度交替所造成的短暫真空，被認為讓犯罪組織看準時機加速擴張，進一步侵蝕地方治安。

從社會與地緣環境來看，素里本身擁有加拿大規模最大的南亞裔社群之一，原本這是城市多元文化的優勢，卻在黑幫滲透下成為犯罪的掩護空間。一方面，龐大的同族社群使犯罪者更容易隱匿行蹤、建立信任網絡；另一方面，也讓受害者因擔心社群壓力、報復或名聲受損，而選擇沉默。部分研究亦指出，當地一些南亞裔青少年雖然家庭經濟條件並不差，但因社交圈狹窄、生活單調，或受到親友關係影響，容易被黑幫塑造出的「強勢、英雄化」形象吸引，先從低階犯罪如「撥號販毒」（dial-a-dope）開始，逐步被拉入更嚴重的暴力活動之中。

進入2026年後，情勢不但未見緩解，反而持續升溫。僅在1月前兩週，素里市就發生多達16起與勒索相關的槍擊或暴力事件，密度之高前所未見。面對不斷升級的危機，素里市長已正式向聯邦政府請求介入，要求宣布國家級緊急狀態，並設立專責的勒索問題專員，統籌跨部門資源來應對這場結合治安、移民、外交與社會結構的複合型危機。

整體而言，素里的治安問題早已不是單純的「犯罪率上升」，而是一場牽涉跨國黑幫、制度漏洞與社群脆弱性的長期對抗。若缺乏更強力的聯邦層級介入與制度改革，這座城市所面臨的，不只是短期不安，而是對整個加拿大公共安全模式的嚴峻考驗。

In recent years, public safety in Surrey, British Columbia, has deteriorated markedly. What was once seen as sporadic street crime has increasingly developed into a structural and systemic security crisis. In particular, the sharp rise in violent extortion and intimidation targeting the South Asian community has left residents and business owners living under constant fear. This worsening situation is not the result of a single factor, but rather the convergence of transnational organized crime, gaps in the immigration and justice systems, turbulence during a police force transition, and the city’s unique social and demographic environment.

At the center of Surrey’s declining public safety is the infiltration and expansion of transnational criminal organizations. Gangs linked to India, most notably the Lawrence Bishnoi network, have reportedly established operational footholds in Canada, with Surrey emerging as a key base of activity. According to police and media reports, Surrey recorded more than 132 extortion attempts in 2025 alone, nearly 40 percent of which involved gunfire as a means of intimidation. These crimes are not random acts of violence, but highly organized operations. Gang members use messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to directly target South Asian business owners, property holders, and affluent families, demanding so-called “protection fees” ranging from 50,000 to 500,000 Canadian dollars. When demands are refused or delayed, the threats are often followed by drive-by shootings at homes or businesses, or acts of arson, all intended to create fear and ensure compliance.

Adding to the seriousness of the situation are allegations that these criminal activities are intertwined with international political dynamics. In 2026, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police publicly stated that there were indications some Indian gang members may not be acting solely for criminal profit, but could be operating with the tacit approval or direction of the Indian government. These actors are suspected of harassing, intimidating, or violently targeting individuals and groups overseas who support the Sikh separatist movement known as Khalistan. As a result, what might otherwise be treated as a local law enforcement issue has escalated into a highly sensitive matter involving diplomacy, national security, and international policing, significantly complicating any effective response.

Canada’s immigration and judicial system challenges have further weakened deterrence against such crimes. Police have noted that many individuals recruited to carry out violent acts are young people who entered the country on student visas, temporary permits, or who have overstayed their legal status. Facing financial pressure, legal uncertainty, or social marginalization, they become low-cost, expendable tools for organized crime. Even when suspects are arrested, Canada’s long-standing backlog in refugee claims, appeals, and deportation proceedings often allows them to remain in the country for years while cases are processed. This prolonged legal limbo reduces the immediate impact of law enforcement actions and emboldens criminal networks.

The situation has been compounded by instability within the policing system itself. Surrey is in the midst of a major transition from RCMP-led policing to the newly established Surrey Police Service. During this period, issues related to staffing, resource allocation, intelligence sharing, command authority, and coordination with community policing have created friction and gaps. These transitional weaknesses are widely believed to have been exploited by organized crime groups, which seized the opportunity to expand their activities and deepen their influence.

Surrey’s social and geographic context also plays an important role. The city is home to one of the largest South Asian communities in Canada, a demographic strength under normal circumstances, but one that has been exploited by criminal organizations. Large, close-knit communities can provide cover for illicit activities, facilitate trust-based recruitment, and discourage victims from reporting crimes due to fear of retaliation, social pressure, or reputational harm. Research has also suggested that some South Asian youth in the area, despite coming from relatively stable economic backgrounds, experience social isolation or boredom, or are influenced by family and peer networks. These factors can make them vulnerable to the glamorized, “heroic” image projected by gangs, drawing them into low-level crimes such as dial-a-dope drug delivery before gradually escalating into more serious and violent offenses.

By early 2026, the situation showed no signs of improvement and instead continued to worsen. In just the first two weeks of January, Surrey recorded as many as 16 extortion-related shootings or violent incidents, an unprecedented frequency. In response to the escalating crisis, the mayor of Surrey formally appealed to the federal government to intervene, calling for the declaration of a national emergency and the appointment of a dedicated extortion commissioner to coordinate cross-agency resources. The aim is to confront a complex crisis that spans public safety, immigration policy, foreign affairs, and social cohesion.

Overall, Surrey’s public safety challenges can no longer be described simply as a rise in crime rates. They represent a prolonged struggle involving transnational gangs, systemic loopholes, and community vulnerabilities. Without stronger federal-level intervention and meaningful institutional reform, the risks faced by Surrey extend beyond short-term instability, posing a serious test to Canada’s broader public security framework and its ability to respond to increasingly globalized forms of organized crime.