The FBI has arrested an Indian national in Vermont who is accused of participating in a transnational organized crime network with operations spanning multiple countries, federal authorities announced.
Nitish Kaushal, also known as “Lala,” was taken into custody days after the FBI added him to its Most Wanted list in connection with a federal racketeering investigation.
“Case Update: Nitish Kaushal has been arrested in Vermont,” the FBI said in a post on X, adding that it continues to seek information about other fugitives wanted in organized crime investigations.
Kaushal was charged with conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act. A federal arrest warrant was issued on June 25 by the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California.
According to a 44-page federal indictment, Kaushal is one of 15 defendants accused of participating in the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group, an alleged criminal syndicate headquartered in India with members operating in the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
Federal prosecutors allege the organization has more than 1,000 members and associates worldwide, including more than 100 in the United States.
The indictment accuses the group of engaging in a range of criminal activities, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering and human smuggling.
Prosecutors allege Kaushal participated in acts of violence on behalf of the organization, including kidnappings and assaults. Before his arrest, the FBI warned that he should be considered armed, dangerous and a potential flight risk.
One of the central allegations involves the July 10, 2024, kidnapping of a man in California.
According to prosecutors, the victim was lured to a residence in Manteca after gang members accused him of stealing a drug shipment belonging to the organization.
The indictment alleges Kaushal and several co-defendants restrained and assaulted the victim before transporting him to an apartment in Fresno, where he was held while gang members demanded $50,000 in compensation for the missing narcotics.
Prosecutors allege the victim was later released after the organization’s leader ordered his release as part of an effort to resolve an internal dispute.
The indictment also alleges the organization trafficked large quantities of cocaine and methamphetamine from Southern California to destinations across the United States and the U.S.-Canada border, with shipments often exceeding 100 kilograms.
Federal authorities further accuse the group of carrying out extortion schemes, accepting murder-for-hire contracts, stealing drugs from rival organizations and smuggling firearms into Canada, per India New England News.
According to prosecutors, the organization also recruited young people in India’s Punjab region, sometimes promising money or opportunities abroad in exchange for participating in criminal activities.
Federal prosecutors have asked that Kaushal remain in custody pending trial, arguing that he presents both a danger to the community and a significant flight risk.
Kaushal’s arrest marks the first publicly announced apprehension since the FBI sought public assistance in locating defendants named in the indictment.
