New Delhi: The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Indian national Harmanveer Singh, a resident of Punjab, for his alleged links to an international drug trafficking network. According to the FBI, Singh is accused of working for the Canada-based Ravinder Dhanda Organised Crime Group and conspiring to distribute, possess with intent to distribute, and export controlled substances across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. He was arrested in Stockton, California, by officers of the California Highway Patrol.
According to the FBI, a federal arrest warrant against Harmanveer Singh was issued on June 23, 2026, by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege that he was involved in a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances, possess them with intent to distribute, and export them outside the United States. The agency said Singh had been under investigation for an extended period and his activities were being closely monitored.
Investigators allege that the Ravinder Dhanda Organised Crime Group, based in Vancouver, Canada, smuggled large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine for drug trafficking organisations operating across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. U.S. authorities claim the network functioned as a transnational organised crime syndicate, coordinating cross-border narcotics trafficking through associates operating in multiple countries.
The FBI said Singh’s arrest is part of a broader crackdown on international organised crime. According to investigators, he was allegedly connected to criminal networks engaged in the cross-border transportation, distribution, and financing of illicit narcotics. Authorities are continuing to investigate the roles of other suspected members and associates.
In recent weeks, the FBI has intensified action against several India-linked organised crime cases. A few days earlier, the agency arrested 26-year-old Indian national Nitish Kaushal, alias “Lala,” in Vermont while he was allegedly attempting to cross into Canada. Investigators claim he is linked to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria organised crime group. His arrest came just two days after the FBI released a wanted poster for him.
The FBI has also announced a reward of up to US$50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Satinderjeet Singh, alias Goldy Brar. U.S. authorities allege that Goldy Brar and the Lawrence Bishnoi gang operate an international criminal network across North America. Investigators further allege that the network has been involved in several serious crimes, including the alleged conspiracy behind the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a Khalistan supporter, in British Columbia, Canada.
Earlier this month, law enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada, and Europe carried out a coordinated operation named Operation Hard Ball, targeting three India-linked transnational organised crime groups. The operation resulted in the arrest of 24 individuals, including 11 suspects in California. The U.S. Department of Justice has filed charges against a total of 37 individuals as part of the operation.
The FBI said Harmanveer Singh’s arrest represents another significant step in its ongoing efforts to dismantle international drug trafficking networks. Investigators are now examining his alleged associates, financial transactions, communication records, and the broader cross-border criminal network. The case will ultimately be decided by the U.S. federal court after the presentation and examination of evidence during judicial proceedings.
