U.S. federal prosecutors have charged 37 people — including the leader of one of India’s most dangerous crime gangs — with murder, extortion, and drug trafficking tied to crimes committed on American and Canadian soil.

Story Snapshot

• Three federal indictments unsealed July 7, 2026, charged 37 defendants under Operation Hard Ball, targeting the Lawrence Bishnoi crime network.
• Bishnoi is accused of ordering the 2023 assassination of Canadian Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, allegedly providing a photo and addresses to co-conspirators.
• Raids hit 50 locations across California and Canada, resulting in arrests and seizures of weapons and drugs.
• A Canada Border Services Agency employee is alleged to have leaked raid and movement information to the gang.

Sweeping Raids Across Two Countries

On July 7, 2026, U.S. prosecutors unsealed three federal indictments charging 37 defendants with racketeering, extortion, and drug trafficking. The operation — called Operation Hard Ball — targeted members of the Bishnoi criminal network, a gang with roots in India that prosecutors say has expanded its reach into North America. Raids took place at roughly 50 locations in California and Canada, with law enforcement seizing weapons and drugs at multiple sites.

Three arrests were made in Canada, with at least three named individuals linked to locations in British Columbia, including Creston and the Surrey and Vancouver areas. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is leading the U.S. side of the investigation. Canadian authorities are working alongside American agents, though the identities of those arrested in Canada have not been publicly confirmed.

Murder Charge Tied to Canadian Assassination

The most serious allegation in the indictments involves the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian Sikh separatist leader who was shot dead in Surrey, British Columbia. U.S. prosecutors allege that Lawrence Bishnoi — the gang’s leader, who is currently imprisoned in India — ordered the hit. According to the indictment, Bishnoi provided a photograph and the addresses of Nijjar to co-conspirators before the assassination.

Bishnoi has denied all allegations against him and his gang. His legal team has not publicly addressed the specific claims in the indictments, including the photo and address evidence, the alleged link to a Canadian border official, or the detailed extortion incidents listed in the charges. The denial stands without a factual rebuttal to the indictment’s core claims.

Extortion Targets in Canada and a Corrupt Border Official

The indictments also detail a pattern of extortion inside Canada. Prosecutors allege the gang threatened a resident in Brampton, Ontario, shot up an Indian singer’s home, and sent death threats to the owner of an immigration company in Surrey. These are not vague accusations — each incident is tied to named locations and specific victims listed in the federal charges.

Lawrence Bishnoi ran global crime network from Indian jail, US indictment alleges

US federal indictment in 'Operation Hard Ball' alleges Lawrence Bishnoi ran a global crime network from an Indian prison, directing murders, extortion and trafficking acro…… pic.twitter.com/1WuG6PLyyi

— NationPress (@np_nationpress) July 8, 2026

Perhaps the most alarming allegation involves a Canada Border Services Agency employee who is accused of leaking raid schedules and movement information to gang members. Neither the Canada Border Services Agency nor the Royal Canadian Mounted Police has publicly confirmed or denied this claim. The silence from Canadian agencies leaves a troubling question unanswered: how deep does the gang’s reach go inside government?

A Transnational Threat That Crossed Into America’s Backyard

The Bishnoi network is not just a foreign problem. Prosecutors say the gang operated across borders — using Canada as a base while running criminal activity that touched U.S. soil. Organized crime groups have long exploited Canada’s ports and transportation hubs in Ontario, Quebec, and British Columbia to move drugs and run operations into North America. Operation Hard Ball shows what happens when law enforcement finally acts with urgency.

For Americans who are tired of watching transnational gangs operate freely while politicians look the other way, this operation is a step in the right direction. The Trump administration’s aggressive posture on border security and international crime has created the conditions for exactly this kind of coordinated enforcement. The indictments are just the beginning — full trials will determine what the evidence proves in court. But 37 defendants and 50 raid locations send a clear message: the era of looking the other way is over.

Sources:

redstate.com, youtube.com, globalnews.ca