Lawrence Bishnoi, a 33-year-old crime boss operating from a high-security Indian prison, has built a transnational criminal enterprise with over 1,000 gang members in Canada, according to officials. The U.S. Department of Justice indicted Bishnoi on July 7, 2026, accusing him of directing assassinations, including the 2023 murder of pro-Khalistan activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in British Columbia.
From law student to crime lord
Bishnoi, a law school graduate, has been imprisoned in India since 2015. Robert Huish, an Associate Professor in International Development Studies at Dalhousie University, described his rise: “He’s basically run a transnational criminal empire from inside a high-security Indian prison, and that is something that should be reminiscent of Pablo Escobar.” Huish noted that Bishnoi’s criminal career began in the early 2010s with accusations of attempted murder, assault, and robbery linked to student politics.
“There’s a lot of political activism that goes with Bishnoi, so he’s done well to accumulate wealth through his gang,” Huish explained. “He’s formed lots of connections with arms dealers, expanded criminal operations as a student at Panjab University, and then after he graduated, the violent activities and the boldness of political intimidation, in particular, became part of his brand.”
Gang operations in Canada
Canadian law enforcement alleges Bishnoi’s gang has more than 1,000 members in Canada, involved in extortion, murder-for-hire plots, and violence targeting the Sikh community. The gang is accused of extorting and carrying out violent crimes, including shootings and kidnappings, primarily in British Columbia, but also in Alberta and Ontario.
Canada declared the Bishnoi gang a terrorist entity in 2025. B.C. Premier David Eby praised the move in a social media video, stating, “People have been living in fear of extortion. This is an important move that could make our streets safer.”
Operation Hard Ball
On July 7, 2026, members of the Bishnoi gang were among 37 alleged criminals charged in a multi-year investigation dubbed ‘Operation Hard Ball’. The operation targeted three India-based crime gangs, with new charges filed against Bishnoi himself. The indictment highlights a complex web of murder, extortion, and a potential political assassination that has strained Canada-India relations.
Huish emphasized the scale of Bishnoi’s operations: “He’s basically run a transnational criminal empire from inside a high-security Indian prison.” The FBI is now involved, targeting the transnational gang behind the extortion crisis and violence against Canada’s Sikh community.
