US federal prosecutors have announced criminal charges against alleged gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his close associate Satinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar, accusing them of orchestrating the 2023 killing of Khalistan separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada. The charges form part of a wider crackdown on transnational organised crime networks, with authorities unsealing three indictments against 37 defendants and announcing the arrest of 24 suspects across the United States, Canada and Europe.

According to prosecutors, the investigation targeted three India-based organised crime groups allegedly involved in contract killings, extortion, drug trafficking and illegal arms operations operating across multiple countries.

Nijjar Murder Included in Charges

The indictments allege that Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar directed the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, who was shot dead outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

Brar remains a fugitive, while Bishnoi has been lodged in an Indian jail since 2015 in connection with multiple criminal cases. US prosecutors have accused both men of coordinating criminal activities through associates operating across international borders.

The killing of Nijjar, a prominent supporter of the Khalistan movement, had sparked a prolonged diplomatic dispute between India and Canada after Ottawa alleged the involvement of Indian agents—claims New Delhi has consistently rejected.

Years-Long International Investigation

Federal prosecutors in Los Angeles said the indictments followed a multi-year investigation into transnational criminal syndicates with alleged links to India.

The probe involved several law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) and US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

First Assistant US Attorney Bill Essayli said authorities would continue targeting international criminal organisations involved in violence, narcotics trafficking and organised extortion.

Extortion Case in California

Apart from the Nijjar murder allegations, prosecutors have accused members of the Bishnoi network of targeting religious and political figures while running extortion operations in North America.

According to court documents, Bishnoi, Brar and other associates allegedly demanded USD 5 million from a victim in California during December and January through threats and intimidation.

The indictments also allege that members of the network were involved in cross-border criminal enterprises extending beyond India and Canada.

Large Drug and Weapons Seizure

During the investigation, authorities recovered significant quantities of narcotics, cash and weapons believed to be linked to the criminal organisations.

Investigators seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, 1 kilogram of heroin, around USD 40,000 in cash, and 12 firearms during coordinated enforcement operations.

Officials described the seizures as part of broader efforts to dismantle international trafficking networks allegedly connected to organised crime groups operating across multiple jurisdictions.

Background of the Diplomatic Dispute

Hardeep Singh Nijjar, 45, was shot dead by two masked gunmen in the parking area of a gurdwara in Surrey, British Columbia, in June 2023.

In 2024, Canadian authorities arrested and charged four Indian nationals in connection with the killing. The case significantly strained diplomatic relations between India and Canada, leading to reciprocal diplomatic measures by both governments.

The latest US indictments add a new international legal dimension to the investigation, although the criminal proceedings remain separate from the ongoing diplomatic discussions between New Delhi and Ottawa.