Indian authorities cooperated with the United States and allied international law enforcement agencies during the years-long multinational investigation known as 'Operation Hard Ball', a senior Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) official confirmed on 8 July. The acknowledgement followed sweeping racketeering indictments against 37 defendants linked to three transnational organised crime syndicates accused of murder, extortion, kidnappings, and large-scale drug trafficking across North America and Europe.

What Operation Hard Ball Uncovered

US prosecutors unveiled charges against alleged criminal networks led by Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and Ravinder Singh Dhanda. The organisations reportedly operated across multiple countries and were involved in targeted killings, extortion, kidnappings, narcotics trafficking, and firearms offences.

Prosecutors further alleged that both Bishnoi and Bhagwanpuria directed criminal enterprises from jail cells in India using contraband communication devices, while associates allegedly carried out operations in the United States, Canada, Europe, and elsewhere. 24 suspects have been arrested across the US, Canada, and Europe so far.

What the Canadian Official Said

RCMP Deputy Commissioner Lisa Moreland confirmed India's role in the probe during an interview following the indictment announcement. 'What I can say to you is in this investigation, as you noted from our US partners, that the Indian government was cooperating in this investigation. We work shoulder and shoulder with the FBI and other agencies to address this,' she said.

Moreland also stressed the borderless nature of modern organised crime: 'And I think the key message here is that no matter where you rest in the world, we will come after you with the tools that we have developed to tackle organised crime.'

Agencies Involved in the Investigation

The operation brought together a broad coalition of law enforcement bodies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the RCMP, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), US Customs and Border Protection, and agencies in Spain and several other countries. The US Department of Justice noted that assistance also came from FBI Legal Attache offices in New Delhi, Ottawa, Madrid, and Mexico City, among others.

Why India's Cooperation Matters

India's participation is diplomatically significant given the strained backdrop of recent India-Canada relations, particularly allegations — which New Delhi has firmly denied — of Indian involvement in activities on Canadian soil. The confirmation by a senior RCMP official that India actively cooperated in this investigation marks a notable development in that bilateral context.

Moreland underscored the broader lesson: 'I think that the key message here is that no one agency can tackle these types of organised crimes by theirself.' As transnational crime networks increasingly exploit technology to operate across borders, Operation Hard Ball signals a growing emphasis on multilateral enforcement frameworks. Further proceedings against the remaining defendants are expected in the months ahead.