Washington, 17 July (H.S.): The US Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) has intensified its crackdown on Indian organised crime networks, arresting Indian gangster Nitish Kaushal in Vermont. The FBI had earlier placed Kaushal on its Most Wanted list, accusing him of involvement in a range of serious offences, including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, arms trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking.

In a post on X, the FBI announced that Nitish Kaushal was arrested in Vermont on Thursday. The agency also appealed to the public to assist in locating other fugitives wanted in connection with ongoing investigations into organised criminal activities. Earlier this week, on Tuesday, the FBI had identified Kaushal as an associate of an international criminal organisation.

According to the FBI, the organisation is involved in crimes including murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking, extortion, arms trafficking, money laundering and human trafficking. The criminal network originated in Punjab, India, and later expanded its operations to California's Central District and other locations in the United States.

The FBI said Kaushal had been working for the Bhagwanpuria gang and confirmed that he is an Indian national. The US District Court for the Central District of California in Los Angeles issued an arrest warrant against him on June 25.

The arrest was carried out as part of the FBI's Operation Hard Ball, an ongoing initiative targeting transnational organised crime.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar