US-Led Operation Arrests 24 Suspects Linked to Lawrence Bishnoi Gang

A US-led international law enforcement operation has arrested 24 people linked to the Lawrence Bishnoi gang and two other India-based transnational organised crime syndicates, accused of offences ranging from murder and extortion to large-scale drug trafficking and racketeering, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) announced.

The coordinated operation codenamed Operation Hard Ball involved authorities from the United States, Canada and Europe following a years-long investigation into organised criminal networks allegedly responsible for targeted killings, narcotics trafficking, kidnappings, extortion and other serious offences affecting Indian diaspora communities across several countries.

In total, 37 defendants have been charged across three federal indictments unsealed in the United States. Thirteen people were arrested in the US, including 11 in California, one in Indiana and one in Georgia. Three arrests were made in Canada and one in Spain, while seven suspects were already in custody. Authorities are also searching for 10 fugitives, including seven believed to be in the United States, two in India and one in Europe.

Investigators seized around 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, 12 firearms and approximately $40,000 in cash during the operation. They also executed 34 search warrants across California, including 23 in the Sacramento area and 11 in Los Angeles.

According to the DOJ, the investigation targeted three separate criminal organisations allegedly operating across North America, Europe and Asia.

Lawrence Bishnoi enterprise

One of the indictments centres on Lawrence Bishnoi, a 33-year-old gangster from Punjab who has remained imprisoned in India for several years.

US prosecutors allege Bishnoi continued to direct a global criminal enterprise from prison using smuggled mobile phones and internet-based communication devices. The indictment accuses him of overseeing political assassinations, murders, shootings, kidnappings, extortion, drug trafficking and human smuggling through associates operating across multiple countries.

The DOJ alleges Bishnoi cultivated a public image as a nationalist and religious figure while simultaneously running an international organised crime network.

The indictment names Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, as the alleged North American leader of the organisation, Rohit Godara as its European leader and Sukhraj Singh Kang as another senior associate. Prosecutors allege the trio coordinated criminal operations on Bishnoi's behalf across the United States, Canada and elsewhere.

Among the most significant allegations is the June 18, 2023 killing of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar outside a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia. Court documents allege Bishnoi and Goldy Brar ordered the assassination, which was carried out by two gunmen.

The indictment further alleges the syndicate routinely targeted prominent religious, political and community leaders to spread fear and facilitate extortion within Indian diaspora communities. Prosecutors also cite a shooting at the Vancouver residence of a prominent Indian actor and singer in November 2023, for which Bishnoi allegedly claimed responsibility in a social media post.

According to investigators, members of the organisation used encrypted messaging platforms, including WhatsApp, to threaten victims and demand large extortion payments. One alleged plot involved demands for $5 million from a victim between December 2025 and January 2026.

Authorities also allege the Bishnoi organisation financed its activities through international drug trafficking and by stealing narcotics from rival criminal groups. Prosecutors claim the gang oversaw the movement of 49 kilograms of cocaine intercepted in California in 2024 and stole approximately 520 kilograms of cocaine from rival traffickers in the Los Angeles area between March 2024 and July 2025.

Nine defendants face charges including racketeering conspiracy, attempted extortion and conspiracy to distribute cocaine and methamphetamine.

Bhagwanpuria syndicate

A second indictment targets the Bhagwanpuria criminal organisation, allegedly led by imprisoned Punjab gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a former associate of Bishnoi who later became his rival.

Federal prosecutors describe the organisation as a transnational criminal syndicate with more than 1,000 members and associates operating across India, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.

The indictment alleges the group engaged in murder-for-hire plots, kidnappings, narcotics trafficking, firearms offences and extortion.

US prosecutors also allege members worked with corrupt officials in India to file false criminal cases against rivals and extort victims. In one instance, a member of the syndicate allegedly threatened a victim before providing the victim's details to a corrupt police officer in Punjab, resulting in false murder allegations against the victim and family members. Another defendant is accused of threatening a family in the United States while in immigration custody.

Authorities allege the organisation financed its activities through cocaine, heroin and illegal firearms trafficking.

Seventeen defendants have been charged in connection with the enterprise.

International drug trafficking network

The third indictment focuses on an alleged drug trafficking network led by Ravinder Singh Dhanda, a Canadian national also known by the aliases "Randy", "Rolex" and "John Wick".

According to prosecutors, the network smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine from Southern California into Canada using long-haul lorries. Narcotics were allegedly concealed inside commercial freight vehicles and, in some cases, farm trucks before being transported across the US-Canada border.

The indictment specifically alleges the trafficking of 430.1 kilograms of cocaine between July 2023 and November 2024.

Eleven defendants have been charged with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to export narcotics, operating a continuing criminal enterprise and possession with intent to distribute cocaine.

Defendants presumed innocent

The DOJ emphasised that the indictments contain allegations and that all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law.

If convicted, many of those charged could face prison sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment under US federal law.

The investigation was led by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and involved the Los Angeles Police Department, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), US Customs and Border Protection, the Drug Enforcement Administration, Homeland Security Investigations and several other law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada, Spain and India.