Top News

Lawrence Bishnoi Gang: A large-scale joint action has been taken in America, Canada and Europe against international organized crime networks linked to India, including the Lawrence Bishnoi gang. A total of 24 suspects were arrested during this operation. Officials say this is one of the biggest actions against an international crime syndicate in recent years.

These criminal organizations are accused of being involved in murder, drug trafficking, extortion and violent criminal activities spread across many countries.

Action against Lawrence Bishnoi gang, under which operation?

The US Attorney’s Office in the Central District of California said that this joint operation was named “Operation Hard Ball”. This action was taken after an investigation that lasted several years, in which law enforcement agencies from the US, Canada and Europe worked together. The investigation focused on three major criminal organizations, which are accused of carrying out a number of serious crimes in North America and other countries. US federal prosecutors have made public three separate indictments, in which a total of 37 people have been accused.

Those arrested include 13 accused in America. Of these, 11 were caught from California, one from Indiana and one from Georgia. Apart from this, three accused were arrested in Canada and one in Spain. At the same time, seven accused were already in custody. According to officials, the search is still going on for 10 absconding accused, who are feared to be in America, India and Europe.

What did the investigating agencies seize?

During the operation, the investigating agencies also recovered about one metric ton of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, about 40 thousand US dollars in cash and 12 weapons. As part of the investigation, searches were conducted at many places. These include 23 properties in the Sacramento area and 11 locations in Los Angeles.

What did the officials say?

Officials described this investigation as a major success against an internationally active organized crime network. They say that these organizations were expanding their influence among communities of Indian origin around the world through violence, intimidation and international drug trafficking.

American investigative agency FBI said that in this campaign those criminal organizations were targeted, which are accused of spreading fear among the people through target killing, extortion, kidnapping, drug smuggling and crimes to illegal weapons.

“Transnational criminal gangs that spread fear, drugs and violence will face the full force of the law,” said First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Assaly. He said that agencies of America, Canada, Europe and Asia have together taken action against these organizations spread across many continents.

What is the allegation against Lawrence Bishnoi?

The most serious allegation in this case is to the criminal network of Lawrence Bishnoi. 33-year-old gangster Lawrence Bishnoi is currently lodged in an Indian jail. According to federal prosecutors, Bishnoi operated his international criminal network from inside the prison using illegal mobile phones and encrypted Internet communications devices.

The charge sheet states that Lawrence Bishnoi publicly presented himself as a nationalist and religious person, while secretly he was running a large criminal network. This network is accused of being involved in crimes like political assassinations, murder, kidnapping, extortion, drug smuggling and human trafficking.

Is there any mention of Hardeep Nijjar’s murder case also?

The charge sheet also mentions the murder of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, which took place outside a Sikh Gurudwara in Surrey, British Columbia province of Canada on June 18, 2023. The victim is identified only as “HSN” in court documents. Prosecutors allege that Lawrence Bishnoi and his North American associate Satinderjit Singh alias Goldie Brar had ordered the murder.

The Canadian government had declared Bishnoi organization a terrorist organization in the year 2025. According to officials, this was done due to growing concerns over the organization’s alleged role in political violence.

What are the other allegations against Lawrence Bishnoi gang?

According to investigators, the Bishnoi organization used social media, encrypted messaging platforms and public messages claiming responsibility for violent incidents to create an atmosphere of fear among businessmen, religious leaders and political figures, especially those of Indian origin. Federal prosecutors allege that the organization tried to extort millions of dollars from several Californians, including residents of Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks, by threatening violence.

How was the funding raised?

Authorities allege that the organization financed its activities through international cocaine smuggling and looting drug consignments from rival criminal gangs. Investigators claim that a shipment of more than 520 kilograms of cocaine stolen in the Los Angeles area between 2024 and 2025 was linked to this gang.

What is Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, which is under investigation?

The second chargesheet pertains to the Bhagwanpuria criminal syndicate, which was allegedly founded by jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria in India. According to officials, he was earlier an associate of Lawrence Bishnoi, but later both became enemies. Federal prosecutors allege that the Bhagwanpuria network has become a global organization, with more than 1,000 members and affiliates active in India, the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom.

What is the allegation against this organization?

This organization is accused of being involved in crimes like contract killing, drug smuggling, kidnapping, buying and selling of illegal weapons and extortion. Prosecutors also allege that the syndicate influenced some law enforcement officials in India and tried to use false criminal cases to intimidate opponents and extort money.

According to the charge sheet, an accused had threatened a family living in Ohio, USA, that if his demands were not met, he would shoot their children. At that time the accused was in immigration custody.

What is the third chargesheet to?

The third chargesheet pertains to an international drug trafficking network led by Ravinder Singh Dhanda based in Vancouver, Canada. According to prosecutors, the network transported hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine by truckload each week from Southern California to Canada. In some cases, drugs were transported across the border hidden inside vehicles used in farming.

Investigators have also linked this organization to the smuggling of more than 430 kilograms of cocaine between 2023 and 2024. Officials from several investigative agencies described the operation as an example of unprecedented international cooperation against organized crime.

What did Los Angeles Police say?

Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the operation reflects the shared commitment of local, federal and international agencies to dismantle violent criminal organizations and increase public safety.

Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) Commissioner Mike Duhem said that this investigation has dealt a major blow to criminal organizations that were targeting people in Canada and the United States through murder, intimidation and fear. He said that wherever such networks are active, action will continue against them.