One of the FBI’s Most Wanted was captured less than 24 hours after he was placed on the list. Nitish Kaushal, 26, was arrested near the Canadian border in Vermont after a reported break-in attempt. The Indian national, also known as “Lala,” is wanted for his alleged involvement in the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group.

Fugitive Attempts Break-In

On July 16, 2026, local authorities responded to a reported break-in at a residence in Alburgh, Vermont. The responding Border Patrol agents came across one of the FBI’s Most Wanted, Nitish Kaushal, and arrested him; he has since been under further investigation and prosecution.

Canadian Border Patrol (CBP) said that Swanton Sector federal agents discovered a disabled and abandoned vehicle at around 2 a.m. near the northern border, blocking one of the neighborhood roads. 

Later in the morning, around 6:30 a.m. local time, a resident on Blair Road reported that someone was attempting to enter her home, so agents responded immediately and arrived 30 minutes later.

“Border security is national security, and the safety of our communities depends on the vigilance and cooperation of the public,” Acting Chief Border Patrol Agent of Swanton Sector Richard J. Fortunato said in a press release. “We encourage everyone—if you see something, say something. The public’s alertness and quick reporting played a critical role in this case.”

Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group

A day prior to his arrest, Kaushal was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list after federal prosecutors in California charged him in a sweeping racketeering case that was targeting the alleged Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organized Crime Group, which originated in the Punjab state of India and is known to operate in the Central District of California and other locations.

The group is described as a transnational criminal organization that is said to engage in many criminal activities, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, weapons trafficking, money laundering, and human smuggling. 

Grand Jury Indictment

A simple records check revealed to CBP  agents that the FBI issued a warrant in the Central District of California for Kaushal’s arrest. Federal court records also show that a Los Angeles grand jury indicted the accused on June 25, formally charging him and multiple co-defendants with racketeering conspiracy under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO).

The court issued a warrant that same day, ordering federal officers to arrest Kaushal and to bring him in to address the racketeering conspiracy charge before a magistrate judge. The FBI’s most wanted notice said that he should be considered armed and dangerous and an escape risk.

Kaushal is listed as Defendant No. 7 in the case, and prosecutors allege that the defendants conducted acts of violence, including kidnappings and assaults, on behalf of the crime organization. Kaushal is specifically mentioned in the indictment as being involved in the restraint, assault, and transportation of a victim in California in July 2024.

The indictment also alleges that the organization was operating as a transnational criminal enterprise with members in various countries, including the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. Many of their group activities included transporting drugs across the United States and between the U.S.-Canadian border.

FBI’s Most Wanted Captured

Kaushal was transported for medical evaluation and has undergone testing to determine the substances in his body, but he was only found with a small amount of suspected narcotics at the time of his arrest. 

Since the allegations in the indictment have not been proven beyond a reasonable doubt, Kaushal is considered to be innocent unless and until proven guilty. A Vermont federal magistrate judge set his next court date for July 21 in Burlington. He is ordered to remain in the custody of the U.S Marshals Service until his detention hearing.

The FBI’s Most Wanted List

The FBI’s most wanted list currently lists 32 individuals, 30 men and 2 women, varying in race, ethnicity, age, and accused of various crimes. Kaushal’s capture may seem like a speedy event for the agency, but not the fastest on record. 

An arrest warrant was issued for Billie Austin Bryant in 1969 after the fatal shooting of two FBI agents who were investigating him for a Maryland bank robbery. He was placed on the FBI’s most wanted list and captured two hours later, setting a record as the fastest capture in history until March 2026.

Samuel Ramirez Jr. was arrested 73 minutes after being placed on the list and taken into custody in Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico. He was named the 538th addition to the FBI’s most wanted list on March 10, 2026, carrying a $1 million bounty over his head.

Ramirez was accused of a double homicide at the Stars Bar & Grill in Federal Way, Washington, on May 21, 2023. He fled the state and was alleged to have been driven to Mexico by his family, where he resided for nearly three years.