RCMP confirmed Friday that B.C. gangster Garinder Deo was arrested in France on July 7 and will be extradited to the U.S. to face federal indictments tied to the FBI's Operation Hard Ball. Deo, a West Vancouver resident, is wanted for drug smuggling, extortion, and alleged involvement in contract killings linked to the Bhagwanpuria gang.
Arrest and Extradition Details
Deo was taken into custody overseas and will be returned to the U.S. to face charges in California, where he is accused of aiding the gang by purchasing bulk quantities of cocaine and heroin intended for shipment from Southern California to the eastern United States. The arrest follows the FBI's announcement on Tuesday that two dozen people were arrested as part of Operation Hard Ball, which targeted the India-based Bishnoi gang, the Bhagwanpuria group, and the Dhanda drug trafficking organization allegedly headed by Ravinder Dhanda of Surrey.
Civil Forfeiture Lawsuit in B.C.
Earlier this week, B.C.'s director of civil forfeiture filed a lawsuit against Deo, seeking to seize three of his properties valued at $11 million: 2030 Westdean Cres. in West Vancouver, and 12645 26A Ave. and 16087 59 Ave., both in Surrey. The lawsuit alleges the properties are proceeds of criminal activity. According to the suit, “Deo has been associated with high-level organized crime, organized criminal gangs in the greater Vancouver area, as well as international criminal syndicates, drug trafficking, importation or exportation, money laundering, trafficking in firearms and violence and enriching international criminal organizations and terrorist groups.”
Operation Hard Ball Impact
The FBI's Operation Hard Ball has led to multiple arrests and indictments, highlighting the international reach of these criminal networks. The investigation zeroed in on drug trafficking, extortion, and violence linked to the Bishnoi and Bhagwanpuria gangs. Deo's arrest in France marks a significant step in holding these organized crime figures accountable.
