A recent US federal indictment has exposed a Punjab-based criminal gang that transformed into an international crime syndicate with over 1,000 members operating across five continents. This syndicate engaged in various illegal activities like murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling. The indictment, spanning 44 pages, sheds light on how this criminal network expanded from Punjab to North America, Europe, and Oceania.
The indictment, filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California, names 15 defendants, including alleged gang leader Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Indian national Nitish Kaushal. Kaushal, who was on the FBI’s Most Wanted list, was arrested in Vermont. The Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group, led by Bhagwanpuria, originated in Punjab and later evolved into a transnational criminal syndicate with a significant presence in several countries.
Prosecutors reveal that this criminal organization grew to include more than 1,000 members globally, with a strong foothold in the US, Canada, the UK, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The members were involved in a wide range of criminal activities, including murder, drug trafficking, extortion, firearms trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling.
The gang allegedly recruited vulnerable individuals, including minors, from Punjab, promising them money, influence, and opportunities abroad. Some recruits were paid meager amounts to commit murders on behalf of the organization. The indictment also highlights the group’s involvement in an extensive international narcotics distribution network, managed by Jaggu Bhagwanpuria himself.
