India, July 9 -- For the first time, the US has invoked the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act (RICO) against a criminal network rooted in India - the Lawrence Bishnoi gang, which has been indicted with running a transnational syndicate spanning America, Europe, Canada and beyond.

RICO was passed by the US Congress as part of the Organised Crime Control Act of 1970, built at the time to dismantle the mafia. But the law's reach is broader than mob or gang operations. According to the official US Congress website, RICO covers activities Congress deemed characteristic of organised crime - regardless of who actually carries them out.

The law's most storied targets were New York"s five families: the Bonanno, Colombo, Gambino,...