A major and decisive crackdown has been executed by US authorities against the criminal syndicate led by Lawrence Bishnoi, along with his notorious associates Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara. This operation extended far beyond US borders, encompassing law enforcement efforts in Canada and Europe. The US Department of Justice has initiated the most significant action to date against an India-based international organized crime network. Through a joint effort dubbed 'Operation Hard Ball', law enforcement agencies have apprehended 24 suspects. Consequently, three distinct indictments have been filed in US federal courts involving a total of 37 individuals.
The Expansion of the Crime Network
This major legal offensive includes the name of Lawrence Bishnoi, who has been incarcerated in an Indian prison for years. Along with him, his trusted allies Goldy Brar, Rohit Godara, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and several others have been named as suspects. According to US investigative agencies, these gangs were not limited to India but had expanded their reach into the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Their criminal portfolio included contract killing, murder, extortion, narcotics trafficking, illegal arms supply, kidnapping, human trafficking, and money laundering.
Arrests and Fugitives
Under Operation Hard Ball, 13 individuals were arrested within the United States, including 11 in California, one in Indiana, and one in Georgia. Additionally, three suspects were detained in Canada and one in Spain. Seven of the accused were already imprisoned for various other offenses. At present, 10 suspects remain at large. Authorities reported that seven are in the US, two in India, and one is hiding in Europe, with intense efforts currently underway to locate them.
Seizure of Drugs and Weapons
During the course of this operation, investigators seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin, $40,000 in cash, and 12 firearms. Simultaneous search operations were conducted at 23 locations in the Sacramento area of California and 11 locations in Los Angeles, dealing a severe blow to the gang's operational capabilities.
Bishnoi's Prison-Based Conspiracy
According to the US indictment, 33-year-old Lawrence Bishnoi has been behind bars in India for several years. Despite this, he managed to orchestrate his entire criminal network from inside his prison cell. Investigations revealed that he used smuggled mobile phones and VOIP to issue orders to his gang members. He is accused of directly planning and ordering acts of murder, political assassination, extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, and human trafficking.
Recruiting Youth Through Social Media
US investigative agencies claim that Lawrence Bishnoi projected himself as a nationalist and a social worker through social media and interviews. By leveraging this fabricated persona, he successfully attracted young individuals from India and other countries to join his criminal gang.
Roles of Goldy Brar and Rohit Godara
The indictment identifies Goldy Brar as the chief operational commander in North America and Rohit Godara as the commander in Europe for the Bishnoi gang. They are considered the most reliable lieutenants of Lawrence Bishnoi, responsible for executing violent operations across different nations. The US indictment also mentions the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, Canada, with prosecutors alleging that the order for this killing came from Bishnoi and Brar. These allegations, however, remain subject to final judicial determination in court.
Extortion and Threat Tactics
The gang utilized WhatsApp and various encrypted messaging applications to threaten businessmen and influential figures, demanding massive extortion payments. In cases linked to Los Angeles and Thousand Oaks, residents were targeted with demands for up to $5 million. Furthermore, the gang claimed responsibility for a November 2023 shooting at the home of a prominent Indian actor and singer living in Canada, posting threatening messages in Punjabi on social media to intimidate the victim.
Profits from Narcotics Trafficking
Narcotics trafficking served as the primary income source for the syndicate. In November 2024, 49 kilograms of cocaine being transported from the US to Canada was intercepted. According to the investigation, between March 2024 and July 2025, the Bishnoi gang allegedly looted approximately 520 kilograms of cocaine from rival drug traffickers to expand their operations. In a separate indictment involving the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang, 16 associates were named, with authorities claiming the gang has over a thousand members globally. It is alleged that the Bhagwanpuria gang utilized corrupt officials in India to file false cases against rivals, subsequently extorting them under the guise of settling those very disputes.
