FEDERAL Public Safety Minister Gary Anandasangaree announced on Wednesday that the federal RCMP will deploy up to an additional 20 officers to support on-the-ground enforcement efforts of the BC Extortion Task Force and local police services. The RCMP is also committing helicopter resources to assist Surrey in its work. He said that after consulting with local MPs and law enforcement, the federal government was responding with the urgency and seriousness that this situation demands. Anandasangaree said in a statement that the recent rise in extortion in Surrey and across the Lower Mainland of British Columbia is unacceptable. Premier David Eby and they were joined by RCMP Commissioner Mike Duheme and Canada Border Services Agency President Erin O’Gormant.