B.C. looking to seize White Rock man\u2019s two homes<\/p>\n
Published 5:01 pm Wednesday, July 15, 2026<\/p>\n
The B.C. government is attempting to seize two multimillion-dollar homes belonging to a White Rock man recently arrested in a significant U.S. federal investigation into Indian organized crime groups.<\/p>\n
The investigation, called \u201cOperation Hard Ball,\u201d has led to more than two dozen arrests of individuals connected to three Indian-based transnational organized crime groups: Lawrence Bishnoi, Ravinder Dhanda and Jaggu Bhagwanpuria. Law enforcement is looking for 10 fugitives, seven in the U.S., two in India, and one in Europe.<\/p>\n
The RCMP confirmed July 8 that Ravinder Dhanda, 57, of White Rock, Jaskarn Baghri, 50, of Surrey, and Gurtej Smagh, 43, of Creston, were taken into custody without incident.<\/p>\n
The three men appeared in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver on Wednesday (July 15) for an extradition hearing related to the charges they face in the United States. <\/p>\n
The U.S. indictment alleges Dhanda operated the cocaine and methamphetamine distribution network and, alongside Surrey\u2019s Baghri a.k.a. Baba, he would \u201coversee and manage the storage, transportation of these controlled substances\u201d across the U.S.-Canada border. The indictment alleges over 948 pounds of cocaine was shipped from July 2023 to November 2024 over international borders. None of these allegations have been proven in court.<\/p>\n
The notice of claim was filed in B.C. Supreme Court in Vancouver against Dhanda and his spouse on July 10, two days after the claim against another B.C. man facing charges in connection with \u201cOperation Hard Ball\u201d was filed. The B.C. government is seeking to seize three homes, worth over $11 million, connected to Garinder Singh Deo and his family \u2013 two in Surrey and one in West Vancouver \u2013 as they were allegedly obtained through Deo\u2019s \u201cunlawful activity.\u201d <\/p>\n
The director claims that Dhanda\u2019s two homes are the \u201cproceeds and instruments\u201d of his illegal activities and are likely to be used in the future for similar activities, if the homes and the proceeds are not seized. That some or all of the money used to buy and maintain the homes was from Dhanda\u2019s \u201cunlawful activity\u201d and\/or tax evasion. <\/p>\n
The home in White Rock on Cliff Avenue is assessed at $3.68 million, and the one in South Surrey on 36A Avenue at $2.68 million. <\/p>\n
The illegal activity that the director is referring to includes possessing controlled substances for the purpose of trafficking at the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a criminal association; possessing the proceeds of crime; laundering the proceeds of unlawful activity; conspiring with another person to commit a criminal offence; participating in activities of a criminal organization, providing or collecting property for terrorist activities, failure to declare taxable income, providing property, money or other services for terrorist purposed or benefiting anyone one facilitating or carrying out a criminal activity or for the benefit of a terrorist group. <\/p>\n
The director is seeking to seize the two homes and any proceeds from them. <\/p>\n
He states that Dhanda\u2019s spouse either \u201cknew or ought to have known\u201d that the homes were used for and would likely be used in the future for \u201cunlawful activity.\u201d <\/p>\n
The defendants have 21 days to file a response to the claim after they were served. It notes that an application for judgment against the property \u201cmay be made\u201d if they fail to respond within the allotted timeframe.<\/p>\n
READ MORE: B.C. gangster arrested in France, B.C. looking to seize 3 of his properties worth $11m<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Surrey man among 37 charged in major U.S. crackdown on Indian crime syndicates<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: \u2018A culture of fear\u2019: How Bishnoi gang violence has hit Surrey and beyond<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: U.S. court documents link Bishnoi gang to the death of B.C. Sikh temple president<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: Surrey Sikh gurdwara calls for continued probe into Indian foreign interference<\/a><\/p>\n READ MORE: White Rock man arrested in major U.S. federal investigation into Indian organized crime<\/a><\/p>\n About the Author: Anna Burns<\/a><\/p>\n I cover breaking news, health care, court, Vancouver Rise FC, Vancouver Goldeneyes and social issues-related topics for the Surrey Now-Leader. anna.burns@surreynowleader.com<\/a> Follow Anna on Twitter<\/a>.<\/p>\n