FBI Sweep in California Charges Dozens Tied to India-Based Crime Syndicates and Uncovers Arrests in Sacramento and Beyond

LOS ANGELES, CA — Federal agents carried out a broad arrest operation Tuesday across California, including Sacramento, as part of an FBI effort targeting organized crime networks tied to India. Prosecutors in Los Angeles said the case involves dozens of defendants and allegations of murder, extortion and drug trafficking.

The sweep, called Operation Hard Ball, also led to arrests in Canada and Spain. Authorities said the investigation produced more than 50 search warrants and led to the seizure of about 1,000 kilograms of cocaine, 12 firearms and $40,000 in cash.

Charges Reach Across Borders

Federal prosecutors said they filed charges against 37 defendants and arrested 24 people. Eleven of the arrests happened in California, including one in Sacramento, while others were made overseas.

The indictments name three India-based syndicates, including one linked to jailed gang leader Lawrence Bishnoi. U.S. authorities also tied Bishnoi’s network to the 2023 killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, an allegation prosecutors said they were making publicly for the first time.

Prosecutors Detail Control

Officials said Bishnoi and former associate-turned-rival Jaggu Bhagwanpuria continued directing criminal activity from prison in India. According to prosecutors, they used contraband phones and encrypted apps to order violence, run extortion schemes and manage drug trafficking from afar.

At a Los Angeles news conference, Assistant U.S. Attorney Bill Essayli described a case in which relatives of a Los Angeles family were accused of being targeted through a police official in Punjab. He said the family later was pressured to pay $400,000 in an effort to make the charges disappear.

Sikh Communities React

In Sacramento and the Central Valley, home to a large Sikh population, the arrests drew relief but also concern that the indictments did not address transnational repression. Assemblymember Jasmeet Bains praised the FBI’s work while criticizing Gov. Gavin Newsom for vetoing a bill that would have trained law enforcement to spot such threats.

Community members pointed to recent violence and intimidation, including a 2024 shooting near Sacramento and threats at a Stockton gurdwara. One Fresno restaurant owner said his business was shot at twice and that callers demanded money while threatening his family in India.

What Community Leaders Want

Advocates said the arrests are important, but they argued the response cannot stop with indictments. Dr. Pritpal Singh of the American Sikh Caucus Committee said the cases show why public safety and freedom from intimidation remain urgent concerns.

Naindeep Singh, a Fresno school board member and youth organizer, said the case shows the difference between false accusations and real criminal threats. He said the community still needs a policy response that can match the scale of the problem and protect people who feel they are being targeted.

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