Albany (New York): The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday (local time) announced the arrest of Nitish Kaushal, an alleged associate of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group (OCG), in Vermont.
In a post on X, FBI, Albany, said Kaushal, who was wanted by the FBI’s Los Angeles field office, was apprehended with the assistance of US Border Patrol personnel.
“Thanks to the outstanding work our @USBPChiefSWB partners are doing to ensure the safety and security of our Northern Border, this dangerous fugitive from @FBILosAngeles was captured early this morning in Vermont,” the FBI, Albany, said.
The agency added that it remained committed to working with law enforcement partners “to protect our borders and keep our communities safe from dangerous criminals”.
According to the FBI’s official wanted notice, Kaushal, alias Lala, is wanted for his alleged involvement in the Bhagwanpuria OCG, which the agency described as “a transnational criminal organisation engaged in, among other things, acts involving murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling.”
The FBI said the gang originated in the Indian state of Punjab and operated in the central district of California and elsewhere. It alleged that Kaushal “carried out acts of violence on behalf of the Bhagwanpuria OCG, including, but not limited to, kidnappings and assaults”.
According to the FBI, a federal arrest warrant was issued against Kaushal on June 25, 2026, by the US District Court for the Central District of California after he was charged with racketeer influenced and corrupt organisations (RICO) conspiracy.
The FBI’s wanted notice also warned that Kaushal “should be considered armed and dangerous and an escape risk”.
Earlier, in a major escalation against transnational crime syndicates operating on American soil, the FBI placed an alleged operative of an India-linked criminal syndicate on its most wanted list.
The FBI’s latest move comes on the heels of Operation Hard Ball, a multinational law enforcement offensive designed to dismantle the Bhagwanpuria crime syndicate’s global footprint. The coordinated international crackdown triggered synchronised raids and enforcement actions spanning the US, Canada, and Europe.
