US authorities have charged the leader of an Indian criminal organisation in connection with the 2023 assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, as part of a broader multinational law enforcement operation targeting transnational crime groups.
The charges were announced alongside three indictments unsealed on Tuesday involving 37 defendants allegedly linked to three India-based organised crime syndicates accused of kidnappings, racketeering, extortion, firearms dealing, drug trafficking and murder.
The investigation involved agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe, with authorities continuing to search for fugitives in the United States, India and Europe.
Federal prosecutors identified Lawrence Bishnoi, 33, and Satinderjeet "Goldy Brar" Singh, 32, as the alleged organisers of Nijjar’s killing.
Brar remains at large, while Bishnoi has been in custody in India since 2015.
Prosecutors alleged that the Bishnoi organisation routinely targeted prominent religious, social and political leaders through violence and extortion.
Authorities also alleged that members of the group attempted to extort millions of dollars from victims in California.
As part of the broader investigation, officials said they seized approximately 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, one kilogram of heroin, about $40,000 in cash and a dozen firearms.
The FBI, Los Angeles Police Department, Royal Canadian Mounted Police and US Customs and Border Protection participated in the investigation.
Nijjar, a Canadian citizen born in India, was a prominent advocate of the Khalistan movement and was fatally shot outside the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara in Surrey, Canada, where he served as president.
His killing became a major source of diplomatic tension between Canada and India after then-Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said there were "credible allegations" linking the Indian government to the assassination.
India had previously sought Nijjar’s arrest and had offered a reward for information leading to his capture.
Canadian authorities arrested four Indian nationals in 2024 in connection with the killing, and they remain awaiting trial.
US officials said the latest indictments demonstrate continued international cooperation aimed at dismantling transnational criminal organisations operating across multiple countries.