International sting arrests 24 over India-based organised crime

An international sting operation has led to 24 arrests in connection with Indian organized crime, including alleged involvement in the assassination of a prominent Sikh figure in Canada. Law enforcement agencies in the United States, Canada, and Europe collaborated on the operation, which targeted crime syndicates involved in racketeering, targeted killings, shootings, extortion, and drug trafficking.

US officials announced that dozens of people have been charged. Two individuals are accused of managing their global criminal enterprises from within prisons in India. The operation has resulted in the apprehension of most of the indicted individuals, with only 10 still at large. First Assistant United States Attorney Bill Essayli vowed that "Transnational criminal gangs who spread fear, drugs, and violence will face the full force of justice and the weight of the federal government."

Among the alleged crimes detailed in the indictments is the 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Canadian citizen and a notable campaigner for "Khalistan," a movement advocating for a separate Sikh state. The operation highlights the extensive reach of these criminal networks and the international cooperation required to dismantle them.

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Transnational criminal gangs who spread fear, drugs, and violence will face the full force of justice and the weight of the federal government.