Lawrence Bishnoi Gang Indicted in US: From Sidhu Moose Wala's Murder to Global Crime Syndicate

In July, Indian gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar were indicted in the United States for running a global criminal empire. The indictment follows a sprawling investigation that included the 2022 murder of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala, who was shot dead in Punjab after his SUV was blocked by two cars; Brar claimed responsibility on Facebook hours later. Bishnoi, born in 1993 in Punjab, began his criminal career while studying law in Chandigarh, moved to Rajasthan, and has been imprisoned for over a decade, yet continues to issue orders via contraband cellphones. His gang gained prominence after he publicly threatened Bollywood actor Salman Khan in 2018 over the poaching of a blackbuck, an animal sacred to the Bishnoi community. The group is also accused of orchestrating the June 18, 2023, assassination of Sikh separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey, British Columbia, which sparked a diplomatic row between Canada and India. Last July, Operation Hard Ball, involving the FBI, DEA, RCMP, and Spanish Civil Guard, led to 24 suspects rounded up across the US, Canada, and Spain; 37 were indicted, including Bishnoi and Brar, on charges of extortion, racketeering, and narcotics distribution. Two other criminal organizations were also indicted. Bishnoi remains incarcerated in India with dozens of pending charges, and experts suggest he has protection from powerful actors.