Indian National Harmanveer Singh Arrested in California for Transnational Drug Trafficking

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Indian national Harmanveer Singh for his alleged role in a transnational drug trafficking network linked to the Canada-based organised crime group led by Ravinder Dhanda. Singh was taken into custody in California's Stockton, on Tuesday by officers of the California Highway Patrol, the FBI said on Wednesday. His arrest comes as part of "Operation Hard Ball", a coordinated international law enforcement operation targeting organised crime groups led by Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravinder Dhanda. According to the FBI, Singh is wanted for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organisation accused of conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, as well as conspiracy to export controlled substances. The agency said the Ravinder Dhanda Organised Crime Group, based in Vancouver, Canada, allegedly smuggled large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine for drug trafficking organisations operating across the United States, Canada and Mexico. On June 23, 2026, the US district court for the central district of California in Los Angeles issued a federal arrest warrant against Singh after he was charged with conspiracy to distribute and possess with intent to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to export controlled substances, and possession with intent to distribute controlled substances. Earlier this month, law enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe arrested 24 people, including 11 in California, in a joint operation targeting three India-linked transnational organised crime groups accused of multiple criminal offences. In total, the US department of justice charged 37 individuals under "Operation Hard Ball". The broader operation, spanning the US, Canada and Europe, resulted in three federal indictments against 37 defendants and the arrest of 24 suspects while also targeting other major organised crime syndicates. As part of the same crackdown, federal agents on Thursday arrested 26-year-old Indian national Nitish Kaushal in Vermont as he allegedly attempted to cross into Canada. Authorities said Kaushal is linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group. His arrest came two days after the FBI released a wanted poster for him. US authorities have also announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar, described as "the North American leader of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang". Brar and Lawrence Bishnoi are accused of directing international criminal operations, including allegedly ordering the June 2023 killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.