FBI Report Uncovers Global Reach of Bishnoi Gang
A recent FBI investigation has exposed the extensive international operations of the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, revealing a sophisticated network involved in drug trafficking, extortion, and contract killings across multiple countries. The report, obtained by Indian media, details how the gang leveraged connections in Canada, the United States, and Europe to expand its criminal empire beyond India's borders.
Key Findings: Drug Trafficking and Extortion
According to the FBI document, the Bishnoi gang is deeply entrenched in the narcotics trade, smuggling heroin and cocaine from Afghanistan and South America into North America and Europe. The report states that the gang used encrypted communication apps like Signal and WhatsApp to coordinate shipments and payments, often using cryptocurrency to launder proceeds. In one instance, the FBI traced a shipment of 500 kilograms of heroin from Pakistan to a warehouse in New Jersey, linked to a Bishnoi associate.
Extortion remains a primary revenue stream, with the gang targeting wealthy Indian businessmen and NRIs in Canada and the US. Victims were threatened with violence unless they paid lakhs of rupees in protection money. The FBI noted that the gang's enforcers in Canada were responsible for at least three attempted murders in 2025 alone.
Contract Killings and Links to Other Gangs
The report highlights the gang's involvement in high-profile contract killings, including the murder of Punjabi singer Sidhu Moose Wala in 2022. The FBI claims that Bishnoi's network provided logistical support, including weapons and safe houses, for the assassination. The gang also has alliances with other criminal organizations, such as the Goldy Brar group and the Bambiha gang, to carry out cross-border hits.
According to a senior FBI official, 'The Bishnoi gang operates like a multinational corporation, with divisions for logistics, finance, and enforcement. Their ability to adapt to law enforcement pressure is unprecedented.' The official added that the gang's leadership, including Lawrence Bishnoi currently in Indian custody, continues to direct operations from prison using smuggled phones.
International Cooperation and Arrests
The FBI investigation led to the arrest of 15 gang members in the US and Canada, with charges including conspiracy to distribute narcotics and money laundering. Indian agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), have been cooperating with the FBI to track down fugitives. In a joint operation last month, authorities seized assets worth $20 million, including luxury cars, real estate, and cryptocurrency accounts.
The report warns that the gang is increasingly using fake identities and shell companies to evade detection. 'They have set up front businesses in real estate and hospitality in Dubai and Thailand,' the FBI noted. 'This is a transnational threat that requires a coordinated global response.'
