LOS ANGELES – Law enforcement in the United States, Canada, and Europe have made 24 arrests – 11 of them in California – connected to three India-based transnational organized crime groups, including Lawrence Bishnoi gangp.
All the India-based organized crime gangs have been charged with a litany of criminal acts, including the assassination in Canada in 2023 of a prominent Indian political and religious figure, the Justice Department announced today.
“Today’s law enforcement action – ‘Operation Hard Ball’ – is the result of a years-long federal investigation into Indian crime syndicates that engage in racketeering, targeted killings, shootings, extortion, the trafficking of bulk quantities of narcotics across international borders, and other crimes around the world whose impact is especially felt in the Indian diaspora,” read official statement.
In total, 37 defendants – including two defendants who ran their global criminal syndicates while imprisoned in India – are charged across three indictments unsealed today. Those arrested in the United States – 11 in California, one in Indiana, and one in Georgia – are expected to make their initial appearances today in federal court.
Three defendants have been arrested in Canada, one defendant was arrested in Spain, and seven defendants already were in custody prior to today’s law enforcement operation.
Law enforcement is looking for 10 fugitives – seven in the United States, two in India, and one in Europe.
As part of this investigation, law enforcement has seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and 1 kilogram of heroin along with $40,000 in cash and a dozen firearms. A total of 23 search warrants have been executed in the Sacramento area and 11 warrants have been executed in the Los Angeles area.
“Transnational criminal gangs who spread fear, drugs, and violence will face the full force of justice and the weight of the federal government,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli. “Working together, law enforcement in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Asia are determined to target and dismantle these criminal organizations wherever they operate. There is no safe harbor for these thugs.”
Among those targeted is the network led by Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi, who is described in the indictment as a jailed crime figure from Punjab, India. Prosecutors allege that Bishnoi used associates and communication devices to direct a criminal enterprise involved in activities including targeted killings, extortion, drug trafficking and other offences across multiple countries.
The indictment also names Bishnoi associates Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, described as the North American leader of the network, and Rohit Godara, identified as a European leader of the group. Authorities allege that the network used violence and threats to intimidate victims and expand its influence.
US prosecutors said the Bishnoi enterprise was linked to the 2023 killing of a prominent Indian political and religious figure in Canada. According to the indictment, two gunmen shot and killed the figure outside a Sikh temple in Surrey, British Columbia, and Bishnoi and Brar are accused of ordering the attack.
Another case involves the group associated with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a 38-year-old gangster from Punjab, India, who prosecutors describe as a founder of a separate criminal enterprise. Authorities allege that the group operated across countries including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand, with involvement in crimes including murder-for-hire, extortion, kidnappings, weapons trafficking and drug distribution.
The third network targeted in the operation is linked to Ravinder Singh Dhanda, also known as Randy, a Canadian national. Prosecutors allege that the group was involved in transporting and distributing large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine between the United States and Canada.
Officials from US, Canadian and international law enforcement agencies said the operation was aimed at disrupting criminal organisations operating across borders.
