West Vancouver's Gurinder Singh Deo arrested in France

West Vancouver resident Gurinder Singh Deo has been arrested in France, the RCMP's Pacific Region Federal Policing confirmed. Police said the 40-year-old is currently in custody in France while legal proceedings are underway to extradite him to the United States.

According to the RCMP, Deo was identified in the recent joint FBI and RCMP investigation known as Operation Hard Ball. U.S. authorities have charged him in connection with a drug trafficking case, alleging he helped facilitate the movement of narcotics into Southern California through alleged links to the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria gang.

U.S. investigators also allege that Deo was associated with the Wolfpack gang and worked on behalf of India's Bhagwanpuria gang. Authorities claim the organization is involved in organized crime activities, including extortion, contract killings and drug trafficking. The allegations have not been proven in court.

Earlier this week, the RCMP executed a search at Deo's West Vancouver residence as part of the investigation. The Government of British Columbia has also initiated court proceedings to seize three properties allegedly linked to Deo under the province's civil forfeiture process.