The United States has charged 37 individuals, including a serving Punjab police officer, in connection with a global crime syndicate accused of extortion, narcotics trafficking, and other crimes. The charges were announced by the US Department of Justice on July 8, 2026.
Details of the Charges
The accused include notorious gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, who are currently imprisoned in India. The US authorities allege that the crime syndicate, headquartered in India, has members across the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand, totaling over 1,000 members and associates worldwide.
The Punjab police officer, identified as Gurinderjit Singh, is accused of working closely with Jaggu Bhagwanpuria's gang and is believed to be involved in extortion schemes. According to the US Department of Justice, the officer allegedly extorted a family in Los Angeles for approximately $400,000.
Investigation and Arrests
As part of the investigation, law enforcement agencies have seized around 1,000 kilograms of cocaine and 1 kilogram of heroin, along with $40,000 in cash and a dozen firearms. A total of 23 search warrants were executed in the Sacramento area and 11 in the Los Angeles area.
- 11 individuals were arrested in California
- One individual was arrested in Indiana
- One individual was arrested in Georgia
- Three defendants were arrested in Canada
- One defendant was arrested in Spain
The US authorities are currently looking for 10 fugitives, including seven in the US, two in India, and one in Europe. The case is expected to proceed with the initial appearances of the arrested individuals in federal court.
