An Indian national, Harmanveer Singh, has been arrested in California over his alleged involvement in a transnational drug trafficking network reportedly linked to the Canada-based Ravinder Dhanda organised crime group, according to US authorities.

Singh was taken into custody in Stockton, California, by officers of the California Highway Patrol. The arrest is part of a broader international investigation into organised criminal networks accused of operating across borders and facilitating the movement of illegal drugs in North America.

Authorities have alleged that Singh was associated with a criminal organisation involved in conspiracies related to the distribution and possession of controlled substances, as well as the export of such substances. The charges against him remain allegations at this stage, and he is entitled to due process under the law.

The arrest came amid a wider law-enforcement operation targeting several transnational organised crime groups. The investigation, known as Operation Hard Ball, has focused on networks allegedly connected to Lawrence Bishnoi, Jaggu Bhagwanpuria and Ravinder Dhanda.

According to investigators, the Ravinder Dhanda Organised Crime Group is based in Vancouver, Canada, and is suspected of trafficking significant quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine. The alleged drug network is believed to have links extending across the United States, Canada and Mexico, highlighting the international nature of the criminal activities under investigation.

A federal arrest warrant for Singh was issued on June 23, 2026, by the US District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles. He was subsequently wanted on multiple charges, including conspiracy to distribute and possess controlled substances with the intent to distribute, conspiracy to export controlled substances, and possession of controlled substances with intent to distribute.

The case forms part of a larger international crackdown involving law-enforcement agencies from the United States, Canada and Europe. Earlier in July, authorities arrested 24 individuals in a coordinated operation, including 11 people in California. The arrests were connected to three India-based transnational organised crime groups that investigators had been examining for alleged involvement in a range of criminal activities.

The broader investigation has resulted in criminal charges against 37 individuals in the United States, according to authorities. The scale of the case underscores the growing focus of international law-enforcement agencies on organised crime groups that allegedly operate across multiple countries and use international networks to facilitate illegal activities.

The arrest of Singh is therefore being viewed in the context of a wider investigation rather than as an isolated drug trafficking case. Authorities are examining the alleged roles played by different individuals within these criminal networks, including their suspected connections to drug distribution and cross-border operations.

The case also highlights the challenges faced by law-enforcement agencies in investigating transnational organised crime. Such networks often operate across national boundaries, making cooperation between agencies in different countries an important part of investigations and enforcement actions.

While Singh has been arrested and charged in connection with the allegations, the legal proceedings will determine the merits of the case. The charges filed against him are accusations, and the prosecution will be required to establish the allegations in court.

The investigation into the alleged drug trafficking network is expected to continue as authorities work to identify the full extent of the organisations involved, their international connections and the roles allegedly played by individual members.