{"id":112161,"date":"2026-07-09T11:51:01","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:21:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/?p=112161"},"modified":"2026-07-09T11:51:01","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:21:01","slug":"transnational-crime-diplomatic-reset-and-global-crackdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/transnational-crime-diplomatic-reset-and-global-crackdown\/","title":{"rendered":"Transnational Crime &#8211; Diplomatic Reset and Global Crackdown"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Transnational Crime Latest News<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nearly three years after the killing of Khalistani separatist Hardeep Singh Nijjar triggered a major diplomatic crisis between India and Canada, Canadian authorities have stated that <\/span><b>no evidence<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> currently links the Indian government to the murder.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Simultaneously, the United States has charged gangster Lawrence Bishnoi and his associate Goldy Brar with orchestrating the assassination under a broader crackdown (<\/span><b>Operation Hard Ball<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) on transnational organised crime.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Transnational Organised Crime\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The term &#8220;organised crime&#8221; refers to illicit operations carried out by networks or groups that collaborate, frequently involving violence, corruption, or related acts in order to get material or financial advantage.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When organisations or activities operate across several nations, it is known as transnational organised crime.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Canada\u2019s Revised Position<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It clarified that investigations have not found evidence implicating Indian government officials in Nijjar\u2019s killing.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the <\/span><b>investigation <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">remains <\/span><b>ongoing<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and authorities have not closed the case.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">This marks a <\/span><b>significant shift<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> from former Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau\u2019s allegation of a &#8220;potential link&#8221; between Indian agents and the assassination.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India had consistently rejected the allegations as baseless, leading to one of the <\/span><b>sharpest downturns<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in India-Canada diplomatic relations.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bilateral ties have <\/span><b>gradually improved<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> since (June) 2025, when both countries agreed to restore diplomatic engagement.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Background &#8211; The Hardeep Singh Nijjar Case<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Who was Nijjar?<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Hardeep Singh Nijjar was a Canadian resident since 1997.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was the chief of the Khalistan Tiger Force (KTF) &#8211; designated by India as a terrorist organisation under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (<\/span><b>UAPA<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) in 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">He was also the president of the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara Sahib in Surrey, Canada.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian authorities accused Nijjar of:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Recruiting and financing Khalistani extremist activities.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Links to attacks, including the 2021 assault on a Hindu priest in Jalandhar.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Supporting activities during the 2020 farm law protests.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Diplomatic fallout: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trudeau&#8217;s allegations in 2023 resulted in mutual expulsion of diplomats, suspension of several bilateral engagements, and significant deterioration in political and strategic relations.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>US Charges Against Lawrence Bishnoi and Goldy Brar<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Federal indictment;<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A US federal court has charged Lawrence Bishnoi, currently imprisoned in Gujarat; and Goldy Brar (Satinderjeet Singh), believed to be operating from North America.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The indictment alleges:<\/span>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bishnoi directed the murder from prison using smuggled mobile phones.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Goldy Brar coordinated operations in North America.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nijjar was shot outside a Sikh temple in British Columbia in June 2023.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Operation Hard Ball:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The charges form part of a major US-led investigation targeting Indian-origin transnational criminal syndicates involved in racketeering, extortion, kidnapping, drug trafficking, murder, and organised corruption.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>Key highlights:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The FBI has announced a reward of up to $50,000 for information leading to Goldy Brar&#8217;s arrest.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>India-US Security Cooperation<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Strengthening intelligence sharing:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Before Operation Hard Ball, US law enforcement agencies held multiple meetings with Indian agencies through the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA).<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Information was exchanged regarding Lawrence Bishnoi, Goldy Brar, Rohit Godara, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria, and other associates.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>India also shared:<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evidence against overseas-based gangsters.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Details of criminal networks operating from the US, Canada and Europe.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Technical surveillance inputs and interrogation-based intelligence.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cooperation intensified after the <\/span><b>deportation <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">of Anmol Bishnoi from the US in 2025.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Emerging Dimensions of Transnational Organised Crime<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Investigations reveal increasing <\/span><b>convergence <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">between organised crime and cross-border security threats.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><b>For example,<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Indian-origin gangs maintain links with Pakistan-based narcotics smugglers.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Criminal networks finance targeted killings through drug trafficking.<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Smuggling routes increasingly utilise maritime channels, and drones along the India-Pakistan border.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li><b>Evading surveillance:<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> Criminal groups employ<\/span> <span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), encrypted messaging platforms., and advanced digital communication technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Broader Implications<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>International relations: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">India-Canada diplomatic relations. Managing diplomatic disputes through evidence-based investigations. India-US cooperation on law enforcement and intelligence.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Internal security:\u00a0<\/b>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Cross-border narcotics trafficking, prison-based criminal operations, and cyber-enabled organised crime using encrypted technologies.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"2\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Expansion into <\/span><b>international organised crime<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> following the decline of older criminal syndicates led by Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan and Ravi Pujari.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Governance and legal framework: <\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">UAPA, international police cooperation, intelligence sharing for combating organised crime, challenges in extradition and prosecution of overseas fugitives.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>International Efforts<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul style=\"text-align: justify;\">\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/united-nations-convention-against-transnational-organized-crime-untoc\/\" target=\"_blank\">United Nations Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (<\/a><\/strong><\/span><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/united-nations-convention-against-transnational-organized-crime-untoc\/\" target=\"_blank\">UNTOC<\/a><\/strong><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/united-nations-convention-against-transnational-organized-crime-untoc\/\" target=\"_blank\">)<\/a><\/strong> is an international agreement that aims to prevent and combat organized crime across countries.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>The Guwahati Declaration<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> was adopted by the BRICS nations to strengthen cooperation against illicit drug trafficking and related transnational organized crime.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Financial Action Task Force (<\/span><b>FATF<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">), <\/span><b>Interpol<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (<\/span><b>UNODC<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">) are targeting the massive illicit profits generated by transnational organized crime.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: justify;\"><b>Source: <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/explained\/hardeep-singh-nijjar-case-canada-india-us-charges-bishnoi-brar-10777838\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>IE<\/b><\/a><b>\u00a0| <\/b><a href=\"https:\/\/indianexpress.com\/article\/india\/operation-hardball-indian-agencies-shared-verified-list-of-names-and-hideouts-with-us-10778061\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\"><b>IE<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Hardeep Singh Nijjar case has emerged as a significant test of India\u2013Canada diplomatic relations, while also highlighting the growing challenge of transnational organised crime.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":112193,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[8593],"class_list":["post-112161","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-upsc-mains-current-affairs","tag-transnational-crime","no-featured-image-padding"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112161","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=112161"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112161\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":112196,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/112161\/revisions\/112196"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/112193"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=112161"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=112161"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/vajiramandravi.com\/current-affairs\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=112161"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}