Federal officials say the case links India-based syndicates to killings, extortion and drug trafficking across several countries.
LOS ANGELES, CA — U.S. authorities unsealed three federal indictments Tuesday charging 37 people tied to India-based organized crime groups after a multinational sweep that led to 24 arrests in the United States, Canada and Europe.
The Justice Department said Operation Hard Ball grew from a yearslong investigation into racketeering, targeted killings, shootings, extortion and drug trafficking. The cases center on three alleged syndicates with roots in India and members or partners across North America, Europe and other regions. Officials said the groups used violence to intimidate families, control victims and move large drug loads across borders.
Federal officials said 11 people were arrested in California, one in Indiana and one in Georgia, while three others were arrested in Canada and one in Spain. Seven defendants were already in custody before Tuesday’s sweep, and authorities said 10 fugitives remained at large, including seven believed to be in the United States, two in India and one in Europe. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli said transnational gangs that spread “fear, drugs, and violence” would face the force of federal law enforcement.
The indictments describe a wide network of alleged crimes, including the June 18, 2023, killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Sikh leader who was shot outside a temple in Surrey, British Columbia. Federal prosecutors said court records identify the victim by initials, but law enforcement and news reports have connected the case to Nijjar. The indictment alleges Lawrence Bishnoi, a 33-year-old imprisoned gang leader from Punjab, India, and Satinderjeet Singh, also known as Goldy Brar, helped order the killing. Prosecutors said Bishnoi used contraband cellphones and internet calling devices from prison to direct crimes, assign tasks and communicate with lieutenants in other countries.
The Nijjar killing drew global attention because it deepened a diplomatic fight between Canada and India. Canadian officials previously said they were reviewing possible links between Indian government agents and violence on Canadian soil. India has denied involvement. The U.S. indictments announced Tuesday did not charge the Indian government. The new cases instead focus on alleged criminal organizations, including the Bishnoi enterprise, the Bhagwanpuria group and a drug trafficking network led by Ravinder Singh Dhanda of Vancouver, Canada. Authorities said those groups used fear, online threats and encrypted messages to push extortion demands and protect drug routes.
Investigators said they seized about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin, $40,000 in cash and about a dozen firearms during the probe. Search warrants were carried out in the Sacramento and Los Angeles areas, with additional action in Canada. Prosecutors said some cocaine and methamphetamine shipments were hidden in long-haul semi-trucks moving from Southern California toward Canada. One indictment alleges Dhanda, also known as “Randy,” “Rolex” and “John Wick,” arranged smuggling services for drug trafficking groups in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
The cases also include claims of extortion in California and the Midwest. Prosecutors said members of the Bishnoi enterprise demanded money from victims in Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks, including one demand for $5 million in late 2025 and early 2026. Another indictment says the Bhagwanpuria group used corrupt law enforcement contacts in India to pressure victims and relatives with false criminal claims. In one alleged case, a Stockton man gave a victim’s name to a corrupt officer in India, leading to false murder accusations against the victim and family members. Another defendant is accused of trying to extort a Midwest family while in immigration custody.
The three indictments were returned in late June and early July, then unsealed Tuesday as arrests took place. The charges include racketeering conspiracy, Hobbs Act extortion counts, drug distribution conspiracies, exporting controlled substances, operating a continuing criminal enterprise, firearms offenses and possession of a machine gun. Prosecutors said many defendants could face prison terms ranging from a 10-year mandatory minimum to life if convicted. The indictments remain allegations, and all defendants are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.
Patrick Grandy, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office, said the operation targeted organizations that had “terrorized families, exploited communities, and stolen lives.” Los Angeles Police Chief Jim McDonnell said the arrests and seizures showed a united effort by local, federal and international partners. Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner Mike Duheme said the groups used murder, cruelty and fear to extort and control people in Canada and the United States.
The investigation involved the FBI, Los Angeles police, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, Homeland Security Investigations, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Spanish authorities and several other agencies. RCMP officials said they are also running a parallel investigation into South Asian organized crime. Prosecutors said the cases are being handled by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California.
The next steps are expected in federal court, where arrested defendants will make initial appearances and prosecutors will seek to move the cases forward. Authorities said the search for the 10 remaining fugitives was continuing Wednesday, July 8.
Author note: Last updated July 8, 2026.