US arrests 24 in global crackdown on Indian crime gangs, charges include 2023 murder of Sikh activist Nijjar
US prosecutors unsealed three indictments charging 37 defendants with murder, extortion and drug trafficking, capping a years-long probe into India-based syndicates.
The operation
A coordinated international law enforcement action on Tuesday led to the arrest of 24 people in the United States, Canada and Spain. The operation, named Hard Ball, targeted three India-based organised crime groups: the Bishnoi gang, the Bhagwanpuria syndicate and a network linked to Satinderjeet Singh Dhanda. In total, 37 defendants are charged across three indictments unsealed in Los Angeles.
Transnational criminal gangs who spread fear, drugs, and violence will face the full force of justice and the weight of the federal government. There is no safe harbor for these thugs.
The Nijjar murder
Among the charges is the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh activist who campaigned for an independent Khalistan. He was shot dead by two masked gunmen outside a temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Federal prosecutors allege that Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and Satinderjeet "Goldy Brar" Singh, 32, both from Punjab, ordered the assassination from prison in India. Bishnoi has been incarcerated since 2015; Brar remains at large.
Extortion and drug trafficking
The syndicates are accused of extorting wealthy Indian migrants in California, threatening to harm or falsely imprison their relatives in India. In one case, a victim in Los Angeles was told to pay $400,000; after refusing, he and his family were falsely charged with a January 2026 murder with the alleged help of a corrupt Punjab police official. Another victim faced a $5 million demand. The groups also trafficked drugs from a Mexican cartel into Canada using cargo trucks, according to the indictments.
Today's coordinated operation strikes at the heart of three brutal transnational organisations that have terrorised families, exploited communities and destroyed lives through ruthless acts of violence in the US and abroad.
Seizures and arrests
Eleven of the 24 arrests were made in California. Law enforcement seized roughly 1,000 kg of cocaine, 1 kg of heroin, $40,000 in cash and a dozen firearms during the probe. Ten defendants are still being sought. The investigation involved the FBI, Los Angeles police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police and US Customs and Border Protection.
Diplomatic fallout
The Nijjar murder triggered a major diplomatic row between Canada and India. In 2024, four Indian nationals were arrested in Canada over the killing and await trial. Last year, Ottawa listed the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity, allowing asset freezes. Tuesday's charges are the first time US prosecutors have directly linked Bishnoi to the assassination.
- Hardeep Singh Nijjar shot dead in Surrey, Canada.
- Four Indian nationals arrested in Canada over the killing.
- Canada lists the Bishnoi gang as a terrorist entity.
- Operation Hard Ball: 24 arrests, three indictments unsealed in Los Angeles.
