FBI Sweep in California Charges Dozens Tied to India-Based Crime Syndicates, Including Arrests in Sacramento and Los Angeles

LOS ANGELES, CA — A coordinated FBI operation led to arrests across California on Tuesday, including in Sacramento, as federal prosecutors in Los Angeles unsealed charges against dozens of people tied to three India-based crime syndicates. Authorities said the case, known as Operation Hard Ball, is aimed at organized crime networks accused of running violence, extortion and drug trafficking across borders.

Prosecutors said one of the central figures is Lawrence Bishnoi, a jailed gang leader in India whose network U.S. officials now say is linked to the 2023 killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Charges Span Several Countries

Federal authorities said 37 defendants were charged and 24 people were arrested, with 11 of those arrests in California. The FBI said the operation also reached Canada and Spain, and that agents carried out more than 50 search warrants.

Officials said those searches turned up about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, a dozen firearms and $40,000 in cash. Prosecutors described the suspects as part of cartel-style networks that directed crimes from prison cells using contraband phones and encrypted apps.

Prosecutors Describe Prison Control

According to the indictments, Bishnoi and former associate-turned-rival Jaggu Bhagwanpuria allegedly oversaw murder, extortion and drug deals despite being incarcerated in India. Federal officials said the groups used remote communication tools to order killings and pressure shopkeepers from far away.

Assistant Director in Charge Patrick Grandy of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office said the action targeted organizations that had terrorized families and communities in the United States and abroad. First Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli also described an alleged extortion attempt involving relatives of a Los Angeles family.

Sikh Communities Raise Alarm

In Sacramento and the Central Valley, where an estimated 250,000 California Sikhs live, the operation drew praise and concern at the same time. Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains said she appreciated the FBI’s work but criticized Gov. Gavin Newsom for vetoing SB 509, a bill that would have trained law enforcement to recognize transnational repression.

Community members pointed to threats, shootings and intimidation reported in California in recent years, including an attack on a pickup truck carrying Sikh activists near Sacramento in 2024 and threats at a Stockton gurdwara in 2023.

Residents Want More Protection

Several Sikh leaders said the indictments confirm what many in the community have long feared, but they also said arrests alone will not solve the problem. Dr. Pritpal Singh said the case shows the need for a broader response, while Naindeep Singh said California still lacks a policy answer to real threats and false accusations alike.

In Madera, one restaurant owner described repeated extortion demands and shootings at his business, saying he reported the incidents to police and was later interviewed by the FBI. Community members said the case has brought some relief, but also renewed pressure for protection and support.

TNSO covers California, Nevada, and Arizona as the story unfolds.