A major international law enforcement operation targeting transnational organized crime groups based in India has resulted in the arrest of 24 people and the filing of dozens of criminal charges linked to murder, extortion, drug trafficking, human smuggling and other serious offences across several countries.
The coordinated investigation involved law enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe, focusing on criminal organizations accused of operating extensive networks engaged in racketeering, targeted killings, shootings, kidnappings, weapons trafficking and international drug smuggling.
According to U.S. authorities, criminal charges have been laid against numerous individuals, with all but 10 of the accused currently in custody. Prosecutors allege that two of the principal leaders continued directing their global criminal organizations while serving prison sentences in India.
Announcing the operation, First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli said transnational criminal gangs responsible for spreading violence, drugs and fear would face the full force of law enforcement and the U.S. justice system.
Among the cases included in the indictments is the June 2023 killing of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Sikh activist associated with the Khalistan movement, which advocates for an independent Sikh homeland.
U.S. prosecutors allege that Lawrence Bishnoi, a 33-year-old gangster from Punjab who is currently imprisoned in India, ordered Nijjar’s killing from prison. Canadian authorities have previously designated the Bishnoi organization as a terrorist entity.
According to the indictments, investigators believe Bishnoi publicly portrayed himself as a deeply religious patriot while using that image to recruit members and expand his criminal network across India, Canada, the United States and other countries. Prosecutors allege he directed a wide-ranging criminal enterprise involved in political assassinations, contract killings, extortion, kidnappings, drug trafficking, human smuggling and other organized crime activities.
Also charged is Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a 38-year-old gangster from Punjab who is also incarcerated in India. Authorities allege Bhagwanpuria, once an associate of Bishnoi before becoming a rival, established his own international criminal organization with more than 1,000 members operating across Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Prosecutors allege that Bhagwanpuria and 16 co-accused managed a global criminal enterprise involved in murder-for-hire, drug trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, weapons trafficking and other serious offences committed in multiple countries, including Canada and the United States.
The multinational investigation represents one of the largest coordinated efforts to dismantle India-based transnational organized crime networks operating across several continents. Authorities in the participating countries say investigations remain ongoing and additional enforcement actions are possible as the cases move through the courts.