US national arrested at Nepal border in passport case

Jordan Brown, a 36-year-old US national from California, was arrested on July 11, 2026, by SSB and police in Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh, attempting to cross into Nepal through an unauthorized route.

Brown arrived from Bali, Indonesia, stayed in Goa for six weeks, and traveled to Sonauli; he claimed he met a Nepali national in Goa but could not provide a full name or contact.

Brown reported his passport was left with an acquaintance in Bengaluru, Karnataka, but could not provide complete identification or contact details.

Investigators are reconstructing Brown's itinerary, examining his digital footprint, and verifying his travel history, passport location, and the identities of people he said he met.