Just days after he was included in the Federal Bureau of Investigation's (FBI) wanted list, gangster Nitish Kaushal, aka Lala, was arrested by the US federal agency on Thursday for his alleged involvement in a transnational criminal organisation engaged in murder, kidnapping, drug trafficking and extortion, among other crimes.
A member of the Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group, 26-year-old Nitish Kaushal was included in the FBI’s list on June 15. “Kaushal is alleged to have carried out acts of violence on behalf of the Bhagwanpuria OCG, including, but not limited to, kidnappings and assaults. On June 25, 2026, a federal arrest warrant was issued for Kaushal in the United States,” the statement read.
However, just a day after this, the FBI issued a statement saying he had been captured.
The arrests happened as part of Operation Hard Ball, a major international law enforcement crackdown led by the FBI and partner agencies targeting India-based transnational organised crime groups. The Justice Department had unsealed three federal indictments charging 37 operatives tied to global Indian crime syndicates for racketeering, targeted killings, and a global drug smuggling racket. Over 24 suspects were arrested as part of the drive across the United States, Canada and Spain. Over 37 defendants were also indicted, including Lawrence Bishnoi, whom US prosecutors accuse of directing murders, extortion and international drug trafficking from inside a prison in Gujarat state using smuggled mobile phones.
His alleged deputy, Goldy Brar, also known as Satinderjeet Singh Brar, remains a fugitive with a $50,000 (€43,735) FBI reward on his head.
Kaushal, born in 2020 in Punjab, is a member of the Jaggu Bhagwanpuria Organised Crime Group (the Bhagwanpuria OCG). He is said to have carried out acts of violence on behalf of the gang, including kidnappings and assaults. He is said to be a close associate of gangster Jaggu.
Jaggu is currently living in Australia but had been in the news in Punjab for organising a mass wedding for 100 couples at Dera Baba Nanak in Gurdaspur.
A chargesheet released by the US law enforcement recently claimed that Jaggu Bhagwanpuria played a key role in the conspiracy to send a large quantity of cocaine from Los Angeles to Vancouver, Canada. On February 16, 2026, an arrangement was allegedly agreed to send an additional 20 kg of cocaine along with the consignment of approximately 163 kg of cocaine, it read.
