Haryana Police has intensified its fight against organised crime beyond the state's borders, with the Special Task Force (STF) bringing 27 wanted gangsters and criminals back to India through deportation and extradition.
Police have also helped secure the detention of 12 more fugitives overseas, with the process of bringing them back to India underway.
The latest figures highlight a growing focus on criminals who allegedly attempt to operate Haryana-based networks while staying outside India. According to police officials, the strategy is not limited to locating fugitives. Investigators are also targeting their local associates, shooters, financiers, arms suppliers and digital networks.
Quick Answer
Haryana Police has brought back 27 wanted gangsters and criminals from abroad through deportation and extradition. Another 12 fugitives have been detained overseas, and authorities are pursuing their return to India.
The operation involves coordination between Haryana Police, central agencies, Interpol channels and foreign law-enforcement authorities.
Haryana Police's Special Task Force has intensified its international crackdown on organised crime. The STF says 27 wanted gangsters and criminals have been brought back to India through deportation or extradition, while 12 more fugitives have been detained abroad.
Police are using human intelligence, technical surveillance, travel information, passport and biometric analysis, intelligence sharing and coordination with central and foreign agencies to locate fugitives.
Since August 2023, Haryana Police has issued 144 Look Out Circulars, 54 Red Corner Notices and 53 Interpol references, according to figures reported from the police's latest briefing. It has also secured the cancellation of 93 passports.
Haryana Police Brings 27 Gangsters Back to India
The Haryana Police STF says it has successfully brought 27 wanted criminals back to India from foreign locations.
These returns have taken place through two principal legal mechanisms:
- Deportation
- Extradition
According to the latest reports, seven of the 27 were brought back during 2025, while 14 have been brought back during 2026 so far. A recent operation involved the deportation of a wanted criminal from the United Arab Emirates on August 4, 2026.
The numbers demonstrate the increasing importance of international cooperation in investigations involving organised crime.
Deportation vs Extradition
| Process | Meaning | General role in these cases |
|---|---|---|
| Deportation | Removal of a foreign national or person under immigration laws | Can be used when the host country's immigration authorities order removal |
| Extradition | Formal legal transfer of an accused or convicted person to another country | Usually involves a structured legal process between countries |
| Interpol Red Notice | International police alert requesting location and provisional arrest | Helps authorities locate wanted individuals |
| Look Out Circular | Alert used by Indian authorities to flag a person at immigration points | Helps prevent wanted persons from entering or leaving unnoticed |
A Red Notice itself is not an international arrest warrant. It is an alert circulated through Interpol channels requesting cooperation in locating and provisionally arresting a wanted person, subject to the laws of the country where the person is found.
12 More Gangsters Detained Overseas
The crackdown does not stop with criminals already returned to India.
Haryana Police has also helped facilitate the detention of 12 gangsters or fugitives abroad, according to officials. Their extradition or deportation proceedings are reportedly underway.
This distinction is important.
27 Returned vs 12 Detained
| Category | Number | Current status |
|---|---|---|
| Wanted criminals brought back | 27 | Returned to India |
| Fugitives detained overseas | 12 | Further legal/deportation or extradition process |
| Look Out Circulars since Aug. 2023 | 144 | Issued |
| Red Corner Notices | 54 | Issued |
| Interpol references | 53 | Sent |
| Passports cancelled | 93 | Cancelled |
These figures come from the latest police-related reporting and should be understood as operational figures at the time of the latest briefing.
Why Haryana Police Is Targeting Gangsters Abroad
Organised crime has increasingly become less dependent on physical presence in the same location as the crime.
A person allegedly controlling a criminal network can remain overseas while communicating with associates inside India through phones, encrypted or digital platforms and financial channels.
Haryana officials have specifically pointed to the role of:
- Overseas callers
- Digital communication
- Local shooters
- Arms suppliers
- Financiers
- Criminal associates
- Financial networks
- Fake identity documents
- Fraudulent passports
Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini recently told the state Assembly that extortion cases had increased, with authorities linking part of the problem to calls made from abroad using digital applications and technologies that can conceal a caller's identity or location.
How the STF Tracks Criminals Hiding Abroad
The Haryana STF is using a combination of conventional policing and technology-driven investigation.
1. Human Intelligence
Investigators gather information about the movements, associates and activities of wanted criminals.
2. Technical Intelligence
Police analyse digital information and communication patterns to identify connections between overseas suspects and people operating inside Haryana.
3. Travel Data
Travel records can help investigators establish when and how a wanted individual moved between countries.
4. Passport Investigation
Authorities are examining passport and identity documents, particularly where investigators suspect the use of fake identities or forged documentation.
5. Biometric Information
Biometric traces can assist investigators in identifying people who may attempt to travel or live abroad under alternative identities.
6. International Coordination
Foreign law-enforcement agencies and Indian central agencies can assist in locating and detaining wanted individuals.
Officials have said the STF is combining human intelligence and technical intelligence with information about travel, passports and biometrics.
International Cooperation Is Becoming Central to the Crackdown
The Haryana STF's overseas operations demonstrate that policing organised crime can require cooperation well beyond state boundaries.
Earlier operations have involved countries including the UAE, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and the United States, according to reporting on previous Haryana STF actions.
A 2026 operation also involved the repatriation of a Haryana gangster from Thailand through coordination involving Interpol, Thai authorities, the CBI and Haryana Police.
Official Commentary
Haryana DGP Ajay Singhal has described the approach as a zero-tolerance strategy against organised crime.
The police leadership has stressed that the objective is not simply to arrest fugitives abroad but to dismantle the wider network supporting them inside Haryana.
That includes targeting:
- Local gang members
- Shooters
- Arms suppliers
- Financial facilitators
- Associates
- Digital networks
This broader strategy is significant because removing one alleged gang leader does not automatically eliminate the organisation supporting the criminal operation.
Haryana's Wider Organised Crime Crackdown
The overseas operation is part of a broader law-enforcement campaign.
Recent reporting citing the Haryana government said police had arrested 3,210 gang members during 2024, 2025 and up to July 2026. The state has also been using its STF and Anti-Terror Squad for intelligence-based operations involving organised crime, illegal weapons and serious offences.
The state's actions have included:
- Arresting gang members
- Targeting illegal weapons
- Tracking overseas operators
- Investigating extortion networks
- Monitoring financial transactions
- Examining cryptocurrency-related transactions
- Coordinating with other state police forces
- Working with central agencies
- Pursuing international detention and repatriation
Financial Networks Under Investigation
Modern organised crime can depend heavily on money movement.
Haryana STF investigations have reportedly included scrutiny of:
- Bank transactions
- Cryptocurrency transactions
- USDT transfers
- Financial facilitators
- Funding channels
- Transactions connected with alleged criminal networks
Tracking money can be as important as locating a suspected gang member because financial networks may reveal relationships between people who otherwise appear unrelated.
Police have also indicated that digital evidence and financial evidence are being examined alongside traditional investigative methods.
Fake Passports and False Identities: A Major Challenge
One of the difficulties in tracking overseas fugitives is the use of fraudulent identity documents.
Investigations in Haryana have previously uncovered alleged passport-forgery networks that were used to help criminals and associates travel abroad under false identities.
For investigators, this creates several challenges:
Identity Verification
A person may not always travel under the name used in a domestic criminal case.
International Jurisdiction
Once a suspect is outside India, Indian agencies generally require cooperation from the country where the person is located.
Different Legal Systems
Extradition and immigration procedures vary from country to country.
Evidence Requirements
Formal extradition proceedings may require extensive documentation and legal evidence.
These factors can make international criminal investigations considerably more complicated than domestic arrests.
What the 27 Repatriations Mean for Haryana
The return of 27 wanted criminals has several implications for the state's law-enforcement strategy.
Stronger Pressure on Overseas Networks
Gang members who previously believed that staying abroad could protect them from Indian law enforcement now face a greater risk of being located and returned.
Greater International Coordination
The operations demonstrate the importance of cooperation between Indian agencies and foreign authorities.
Focus on the Complete Network
Police are increasingly targeting the wider support structure rather than focusing exclusively on alleged gang leaders.
Technology-Based Investigation
Digital, financial, biometric and travel intelligence are becoming important parts of organised-crime investigations.
Pros and Cons of International Gangster Crackdowns
| Pros | Challenges |
|---|---|
| Helps bring wanted criminals back to India | International legal procedures can be lengthy |
| Disrupts overseas criminal networks | Different countries have different laws |
| Strengthens cooperation between agencies | Extradition may require extensive evidence |
| Can deter criminals from operating abroad | Fake identities can complicate investigations |
| Helps identify financial and digital networks | Cross-border investigations require significant resources |
The benefits are substantial, but international criminal investigations require patience, legal coordination and evidence-sharing.
Step-by-Step: How a Wanted Criminal Abroad Can Be Brought Back
The exact procedure varies depending on the country and circumstances, but a typical international law-enforcement process may involve several stages.
Step 1: Identify the Wanted Person
Investigators establish the identity and criminal status of the suspect.
Step 2: Gather Evidence
Police collect information supporting the criminal case and the person's alleged role.
Step 3: Issue Immigration and International Alerts
Authorities may issue a Look Out Circular or seek international police cooperation.
Step 4: Locate the Person
Human intelligence, technical intelligence and international cooperation may help determine the person's location.
Step 5: Detention Abroad
The foreign authorities may detain the person according to their own laws.
Step 6: Legal Proceedings
Where extradition is sought, the relevant legal process takes place in the foreign jurisdiction.
Step 7: Deportation or Extradition
The person may eventually be returned to India through the applicable legal mechanism.
Step 8: Indian Police Custody and Investigation
Once returned, the individual can face proceedings under the relevant Indian cases.
Key Takeaways
- 27 wanted gangsters and criminals have been brought back to India, according to the latest Haryana Police-related reports.
- 12 additional fugitives have been detained abroad and proceedings to bring them back are continuing.
- The Haryana STF is targeting both overseas criminals and their local support networks.
- Since August 2023, police have issued 144 Look Out Circulars and 54 Red Corner Notices, according to the latest reported figures.
- 53 Interpol references have also been made.
- 93 passports have been cancelled as part of efforts to restrict fugitives' international movement.
- Investigators are using human intelligence, technical surveillance, travel information, passport analysis and biometric information.
- Financial investigations include scrutiny of banking and cryptocurrency transactions.
- International cooperation remains essential because suspects located abroad fall under the jurisdiction of the countries where they are found.
- The larger objective is to disrupt entire organised-crime networks rather than simply arrest individual suspects.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How many gangsters has Haryana Police brought back from abroad?
Haryana Police has reported bringing 27 wanted gangsters and criminals back to India through deportation and extradition.
2. How many more gangsters have been detained overseas?
Authorities have reported that 12 more fugitives have been detained abroad, with proceedings for their return continuing.
3. Which agency is leading the crackdown?
The Special Task Force (STF) of Haryana Police is playing a central role in tracking and pursuing organised-crime suspects operating from abroad.
4. How does Haryana Police find gangsters hiding overseas?
The STF uses human intelligence, technical intelligence, travel information, passport analysis, biometric information and coordination with other agencies and foreign law enforcement.
5. What is a Red Corner Notice?
A Red Corner Notice is an Interpol alert used to seek the location and provisional arrest of a wanted person pending extradition or similar legal action. It is not, by itself, an international arrest warrant.
6. How many Look Out Circulars has Haryana Police issued?
According to the latest reported figures, Haryana Police has issued 144 Look Out Circulars since August 2023.
7. How many Red Corner Notices have been issued?
The latest police-related reports cite 54 Red Corner Notices.
8. How many Interpol references have been sent?
Haryana Police has reportedly sent 53 Interpol references since August 2023.
9. Why do gangsters operate from foreign countries?
Some organised-crime suspects allegedly attempt to avoid arrest while continuing to communicate with associates in India. Overseas locations can create additional legal and investigative barriers.
10. Is deportation the same as extradition?
No. Deportation generally involves removal under immigration law, while extradition is a formal legal process for transferring a person between jurisdictions in connection with criminal proceedings.
11. What countries have been involved in earlier Haryana STF operations?
Previous operations have involved countries including the UAE, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, Kazakhstan, Armenia and the United States.
12. Does the crackdown target only gang leaders?
No. Haryana Police has said its strategy also targets local shooters, arms suppliers, financiers, facilitators and digital networks.
13. Is Haryana Police investigating criminal finances?
Yes. Police have been examining financial transactions, including banking activity and cryptocurrency-related transactions, as part of investigations into criminal networks.
14. What is the significance of bringing gangsters back to India?
Returning wanted criminals allows Indian investigators and courts to pursue the relevant domestic cases and can disrupt criminal networks operating across borders.
15. What happens to the 12 gangsters detained abroad?
Their return depends on the applicable legal and immigration procedures in the countries where they have been detained. Haryana authorities are pursuing the necessary extradition or deportation process.
Conclusion
Haryana Police's latest international operation marks a significant escalation in the state's campaign against organised crime.
The return of 27 wanted criminals, combined with the detention of 12 more fugitives abroad, shows how law enforcement is increasingly treating organised crime as a cross-border problem rather than a purely local one.
The strategy also goes beyond individual arrests. By tracking alleged local associates, financiers, arms suppliers, digital communications and financial transactions, investigators are attempting to weaken the infrastructure that allows criminal networks to operate.
The effectiveness of the campaign will ultimately depend on sustained investigation, strong evidence, international cooperation and successful prosecution through the legal system.
For Haryana, the message from the latest operation is clear: being outside India does not necessarily mean being beyond the reach of Indian law enforcement.