An international law enforcement operation has led to the arrest of 24 individuals linked to India-based organized crime networks. U.S. officials announced the arrests on Tuesday, noting that several suspects were also accused of involvement in the killing of a prominent Sikh leader in Canada. The operation was jointly conducted by agencies from the United States, Canada, and Europe following a long-running investigation into transnational criminal groups engaged in extortion, contract killings, shootings, assaults, forced payments, and drug trafficking.

According to the charges, two of the accused allegedly directed their criminal empires from prisons in India. Among those named are Lawrence Bishnoi, accused of ordering the 2023 murder of Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar, and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, a rival gang leader with an alleged network spanning multiple countries. Another accused, Ravinder Singh Dhandar from Vancouver, was charged with trafficking large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from the U.S. to Canada.

Officials described the coordinated action as a major strike against three violent transnational organizations that have spread fear and violence across several continents.