The Federal Bureau of Investigation has placed an Indian national identified as Kamal on its wanted list over his alleged involvement with the Lawrence Bishnoi Organised Crime Group, as US authorities intensify their crackdown on transnational criminal networks with roots in India.
The FBI has identified the suspect as “No Name Given Kamal” and accused him of participating in a conspiracy to interfere with commerce through extortion. According to US authorities, the alleged criminal network originated in Punjab and subsequently extended its operations to the Central District of California and other locations. A federal arrest warrant for Kamal was issued on July 1 by the US District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles after he was charged with conspiracy to interfere with commerce by extortion.
FBI seeks information on Kamal
The FBI said Kamal is wanted in connection with his alleged involvement in the Lawrence Bishnoi Organised Crime Group, which American authorities have been investigating as part of a wider effort against transnational organised crime.
The latest action brings another alleged member of an India-linked criminal network onto the FBI’s wanted list and highlights growing scrutiny in the United States of gangs accused of extending their activities beyond South Asia.
The case is part of a broader American investigation into organised crime groups allegedly operating across international borders and engaging in activities ranging from extortion and drug trafficking to money laundering and violent crime.
Operation Hard Ball widens crackdown
The action against Kamal comes amid an intensified crackdown under “Operation Hard Ball”, an international law-enforcement effort targeting networks associated with the Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravinder Dhanda organised crime groups.
US authorities have charged 37 people in connection with the operation. Earlier this month, 24 people allegedly linked to the three transnational criminal organisations were arrested during coordinated action, including 11 arrests in California.
The operation has brought increased attention to the alleged overseas activities of organised crime networks originating in India, particularly Punjab, and their links with criminal operations in the United States and Canada.
Other Indian nationals on wanted list
Kamal is not the first Indian national to be sought by the FBI in recent weeks as part of the widening investigation. The agency earlier placed Major Singh and Nitish Kaushal on its wanted list over their alleged association with the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group.
US authorities have alleged that the Bhagwanpuria network originated in Punjab before expanding its activities overseas. The group has been accused of involvement in offences including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling.
The FBI also placed Indian national Amritpal Singh on its wanted list on July 30 over his alleged involvement with the Ravinder Dhanda Organised Crime Group, a transnational network based in Vancouver, Canada.
US authorities allege that the Dhanda network was involved in trafficking substantial quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine for drug organisations operating across the United States, Canada and Mexico.
US steps up action against transnational gangs
The widening investigation indicates that American law-enforcement agencies are increasingly treating India-origin gangs as transnational organised crime networks rather than groups whose operations are confined to South Asia.
In July, Indian national Harmanveer Singh was arrested in Stockton, California, over his alleged involvement in drug-trafficking activities linked to the Ravinder Dhanda network. That arrest was also part of Operation Hard Ball.
The latest FBI action against Kamal adds to a series of arrests, indictments and wanted notices issued as US authorities attempt to dismantle the overseas financial, logistical and operational networks allegedly associated with the groups.