Nitish Kaushal, a 28-year-old associate of the Bhagwanpuria organized crime syndicate based in Punjab, India, was arrested by U.S. law enforcement in Vermont on July 16, 2026, the FBI announced Thursday. Kaushal had been added to the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list just days earlier, on July 9, 2026, for his alleged involvement in a transnational drug trafficking and murder conspiracy.
According to the FBI, Kaushal is accused of conspiring to distribute heroin and fentanyl across the United States, as well as ordering the murder of a rival gang member in Canada. He was taken into custody without incident in Burlington, Vermont, following a joint operation by the FBI, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and local law enforcement.
Kaushal's arrest comes weeks after 15 members of three organized crime groups, including the Bhagwanpuria gang, were indicted in a sweeping federal case unsealed in June 2026. The indictment alleges that the groups operated a drug pipeline from India through Canada into the U.S., using violence and intimidation to protect their operations.
FBI Director Christopher Wray praised the arrest, stating, 'This arrest demonstrates the FBI's commitment to pursuing fugitives wherever they hide, and our determination to dismantle transnational criminal enterprises that threaten American communities.' Kaushal is expected to face charges in federal court in Vermont before being transferred to New York for prosecution.
