Investigators are questioning a US citizen who was arrested by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) forces at the Indo-Nepal border on Saturday while trying to cross into Nepal without valid travel documents. Officials said he was interrogated by several central intelligence and security agencies.
So far, officials familiar with the matter said no evidence of any suspicious or anti-national links has been found.
“The agencies are independently verifying every claim made by him, including his identity, travel history, previous visits to different countries and the circumstances under which he entered India,” a senior police officer said. HT I’ve learned.
Who is a citizen?
The man has been identified as Jordan Brown, 36 years old and claims to be based in California, USA.
Brown said during questioning He had traveled to Thailand on a tourist visa but allegedly lost his passport there. He then reached Sri Lanka by sea and then entered India via sea route in November 2025, he added.
In a video message, Maharajganj Additional Superintendent of Police, Siddharth, confirmed the arrest, saying: “Yesterday, on July 11, the SSI arrested a person near Sunauli for trying to enter Nepal without a permit. When questioned, he identified himself as Jordan Brown and stated that he is an American citizen from California.”
“Since then, he was residing in Goa. He was trying to travel to Nepal when he was arrested by the State Security Agency. No valid travel documents were found in his possession,” Siddharth added. that I I mentioned.
He also said that Brown’s claims are currently being verified. A case has been registered against him at Sunoli police station under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act for entering India without valid documents.
How was he arrested?
Brown was arrested during a routine patrol in Mainhua district of Uttar Pradesh, under the limits of Sunoli police station, near border pillar number 516, the news agency reported. PTI I mentioned.
Officials said Brown traveled from Bengaluru to the Sunauli border with the intention of entering Nepal. They claimed that he tried to escape after members of the State Security Service stopped him to check him, but he was chased and arrested.
The Sunauli border is one of the busiest land crossings between India and Nepal, connecting Maharajganj district in Uttar Pradesh with Bhairahawa in Nepal’s Rupandehi district.
What the investigation revealed
During the search, SSB recovered $31,460 in cash and two mobile phones from Brown, according to PTI. However, it is not known whether the currency is Indian or Nepalese.
Separately, HT reported that a mobile phone, Nepali currency, religious books, an AI translator device, a Chinese passport, diaries, a wristwatch and other possessions were found in his possession.
Officials said that examination of the recovered items is underway.
