FBI – Punjab Gang Suspect Arrested Near Canada Border After Alleged Escape Attempt
FBI – Federal investigators have released fresh details after the arrest of an Indian national accused of links to an international organised crime network. According to newly filed court documents, the suspect allegedly tried to avoid capture for several days before being taken into custody near the US-Canada border.
The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has arrested Nitish Kaushal, also known as “Lala”, in Alburgh, Vermont, less than a mile from the Canadian border. Kaushal, an Indian citizen, was detained on July 16 after being listed among the FBI’s Most Wanted fugitives. Federal prosecutors have asked the court to deny him bail, arguing that he presents a significant flight risk and could pose a threat to public safety if released before trial.
Court Filings Outline Alleged Efforts to Avoid Arrest
Documents submitted by federal prosecutors state that Kaushal was indicted by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles on June 25 on charges related to Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) conspiracy. Authorities reportedly attempted to arrest him on July 7, but he was not located.
Investigators allege that after the indictment became public, Kaushal abandoned a mobile phone that had been under court-authorised surveillance and disappeared. The FBI subsequently added him to its Most Wanted list while searching for his whereabouts.
According to prosecutors, Kaushal later abandoned a vehicle only a short distance from the Canadian border. Court filings also mention that Canadian authorities observed an unidentified individual travelling on foot across the border area. However, the documents do not confirm that the individual seen in Canada was definitively Kaushal.
Arrest Followed Local Resident’s Report
Federal court records state that a Vermont resident alerted authorities after noticing a suspicious individual on home security footage looking inside a vehicle before entering a nearby barn.
When US Border Patrol officers later encountered Kaushal, prosecutors allege he produced a New Jersey driver’s licence bearing another person’s identity. Fingerprint analysis reportedly confirmed his true identity, and investigators claim he admitted that the licence was not his. Prosecutors also submitted photographs comparing a distinctive lion tattoo recorded during the investigation with the tattoo visible following his arrest.
Alleged Links to International Crime Network
The 44-page federal indictment names Kaushal among 15 defendants accused of involvement with what prosecutors describe as the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group. Authorities allege the network originated in Punjab and expanded operations across the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
According to prosecutors, the organisation has more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, including over 100 operating within the United States. Court documents allege the network generated income through drug trafficking, extortion, firearms trafficking, money laundering, kidnapping, human smuggling and murder-for-hire operations.
Allegations Connected to California Incident
Prosecutors have specifically accused Kaushal of participating in violent activities for the organisation. One key allegation relates to an incident that allegedly took place on July 10, 2024, in California.
According to the indictment, gang members believed a man had stolen a drug shipment belonging to the organisation. Prosecutors allege the victim was lured to a residence in Manteca, where Kaushal and several co-defendants restrained and assaulted him before moving him to an apartment in Fresno.
Court documents further allege the victim was held while members of the organisation demanded $50,000 as compensation for the missing drug consignment. Prosecutors claim the victim was eventually released after the group’s alleged leader ordered his release to resolve an internal dispute.
Prosecutors Oppose Bail Request
Federal prosecutors also allege that Kaushal entered the United States illegally through Yuma, Arizona, in 2022. Court filings further state that he previously faced charges including murder, attempted murder, conspiracy and weapons-related offences in 2023, though he was ultimately convicted on a firearms offence and sentenced to 60 days in custody. Prosecutors additionally allege he was involved in a misdemeanor drug case in 2026.
Based on the seriousness of the allegations, the government’s evidence and the circumstances surrounding his arrest, prosecutors argue that no release conditions would adequately ensure either public safety or Kaushal’s appearance in future court proceedings. The detention request remains before the federal court as the criminal case moves forward.