No Passport, Entered India Illegally Via Bangladesh, Was Fleeing To Nepal: Why Ex-US Army Man Is Under Scanner | Exclusive

Last Updated:July 13, 2026, 18:42 IST

Brown allegedly told investigators that he lost his passport in Vietnam, travelled through Bangladesh and entered India illegally. He was not carrying a passport or visa

A 36-year-old US national, identified as Jordan Brown and reportedly a former US Army Special Forces (Green Beret) soldier, has been detained near the Indo-Nepal border in Uttar Pradesh for allegedly attempting to cross into Nepal through an unauthorised route.

According to the FIR exclusively accessed by CNN-News18, Brown, a resident of California, was intercepted around 10 am on July 11 near Border Pillar No. 516 (22) at Jaiswal Tola, under the jurisdiction of the Sonauli Police Station in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj district.

THE DRAMATIC CHASE

The FIR states that alert personnel of the 22nd Battalion of the SSB, deployed on border outpost duty, noticed Brown attempting to cross from the Indian side into Nepal through an unauthorised route. When security personnel stopped him and sought his identification documents, he allegedly refused to produce any papers or cooperate with officials.

According to the FIR, Brown then turned around and attempted to flee towards the Indian side in an apparent bid to evade detention. He reportedly ran nearly 30 metres into adjoining agricultural fields before SSB personnel gave chase.

The pursuit ended with the assistance of local villagers working in the fields, who helped security personnel apprehend Brown. He was then taken into custody and later handed over to the Uttar Pradesh Police.

BOOKED FOR ILLEGAL ENTRY

Investigators have since identified Brown as a US citizen who reportedly served in the US Army’s Special Forces, commonly known as the Green Berets.

During questioning, Brown allegedly told investigators that he had lost his passport in Vietnam, travelled through Bangladesh and entered India illegally before attempting to cross into Nepal. Officials said he was not carrying a valid passport, visa or any other identity documents at the time of his detention.

He has been booked for illegal entry into India and attempting to cross the Indo-Nepal border through an unauthorised route. No espionage or terrorism-related charges have been filed so far.

TRAVELLING TO MEET ‘NAZ’, MARRIED AN INDIAN IN ITALY

However, top intelligence sources told CNN-News18 that Brown’s reported military background has made the case a matter of heightened security interest.

According to intelligence sources, Green Berets are among the US Army’s most elite Special Forces personnel and undergo extensive training in SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape), equipping them with advanced skills in evasion, survival and border movement.

Sources said that a US citizen who loses a passport overseas would ordinarily approach the nearest US embassy or consulate for emergency travel documents. They added that investigators are examining why Brown allegedly bypassed these official channels and instead attempted to cross an international border through an unauthorised route.

His reported attempt to flee after being intercepted by SSB personnel has also drawn the attention of investigators, who are probing whether the act was a deliberate attempt to evade security forces.

Intelligence sources also said Brown’s explanation for his movements has raised questions. He allegedly claimed he was travelling to Nepal to meet a person identified only as “Naz", whom he said he had met on a beach in Goa. According to sources, he was unable to provide investigators with a surname, phone number or address for the individual.

Brown also reportedly claimed that he had married an Indian yoga instructor in Italy two years ago. Security agencies are verifying that claim as part of the ongoing investigation.

Multiple agencies are now examining Brown’s travel route, contacts and movements across countries. Officials maintain that the investigation is currently focused on immigration and border violations, and that no evidence of espionage or terror links has emerged at this stage.

About the Author

Manoj Gupta

Group Editor, Investigations & Security Affairs, Network18

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