The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has intensified its crackdown on transnational crime syndicates linked to Punjab-based gangsters by declaring Nitish Kaushal, the alleged Canada-based right-hand man of jailed gangster Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, as one of its most wanted fugitives.
Kaushal, a native of Gurdaspur in Punjab, has been accused of operating the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang’s criminal network from Canada. The action was taken under the FBI’s ‘Operation Hard Ball’, with the orders issued on July 15.
Assets Worth $6.4 Million Ordered to Be Seized
As part of the same operation, authorities have also ordered the seizure of assets worth $6.4 million (approximately Rs 61.6 crore) belonging to Canada-based gangster Ravinder Singh Dhanda, who is of Punjabi origin.
Dhanda is accused of running a major drug trafficking organisation from British Columbia and is alleged to have smuggled hundreds of kilograms of cocaine and methamphetamine across the US-Canada border.
Extradition Proceedings Underway
Dhanda was arrested in British Columbia on July 7, 2026, and extradition proceedings against him are currently underway. Authorities in British Columbia are also moving to confiscate his properties under the province’s civil forfeiture laws.
Nitish Kaushal Faces Multiple Serious Charges
According to the FBI, Nitish Kaushal has been issued an arrest warrant and placed on its Most Wanted list for allegedly managing Jaggu Bhagwanpuria’s criminal syndicate from Canada while the gangster remains lodged in an Indian prison.
Kaushal faces multiple charges, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, arms smuggling, and money laundering. The FBI has described him as a dangerous criminal and announced a reward for information leading to his arrest.
Operation Hard Ball Targets International Crime Networks
Under Operation Hard Ball, the FBI has taken action against 37 accused linked to organised crime networks associated with gangsters Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and Ravinder Singh Dhanda.
So far, 24 suspects have been arrested, while 10 remain absconding.
The operation was carried out jointly by law enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada, and Europe. During the crackdown, officials seized more than 1,000 kilograms of narcotics, firearms, and cash.
US authorities stated that these criminal networks, allegedly operated from prisons and overseas, had been targeting members of the Indian community through organised crime activities.