International raid arrests 24, charges 37 Indian gang groups

A major international law enforcement operation targeting Indian organized crime syndicates has resulted in dozens of arrests and charges, including in connection with the 2023 assassination of a prominent Sikh activist in Canada. Authorities from the United States, Canada, and Europe announced the charges on Tuesday, July 7, 2026, following a two-year investigation.

The operation targeted three transnational criminal organizations, leading to charges against 37 defendants. U.S. officials stated that 24 individuals have been arrested, while seven fugitives remain at large in the United States, two in India, and one in Europe. The groups are accused of a wide range of crimes including racketeering, murder-for-hire, drug trafficking, extortion, kidnappings, and weapons trafficking across multiple continents.

Among the most significant charges are those related to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and prominent advocate for Khalistan, a movement seeking an independent Sikh homeland. Nijjar was fatally shot outside a temple in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023. U.S. authorities have charged Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and his associate Satinderjeet Singh with...