New Delhi: An American citizen identified as Jordan Brown, a 36-year-old resident of California, has been detained by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) after he was allegedly found attempting to cross the India-Nepal border without valid travel documents.

The incident took place near the Sonauli border in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj district, prompting a multi-agency investigation into his identity, travel history and activities.According to officials, Brown was intercepted during a routine patrol by SSB personnel in the Mainihwa area under the jurisdiction of the Sonauli Police Station, close to border pillar number 516.

Preliminary investigations suggest that he had travelled from Bengaluru to the border and allegedly attempted to enter Nepal without the required authorisation. Police said he reportedly tried to flee when security personnel stopped him for verification but was quickly apprehended.

During questioning, Brown claimed to be a United States citizen from California. He told investigators that he had travelled to Thailand on a tourist visa, where he allegedly lost his passport. He further stated that he later reached Sri Lanka by sea before entering India through a maritime route in November 2025. Officials, however, said each of these claims is being independently verified, and no conclusion has been drawn regarding the authenticity of his statements.

Authorities have registered a case against Brown at the Sonauli Police Station under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act for allegedly entering India without valid travel documents. Maharajganj Additional Superintendent of Police Siddharth confirmed that Brown did not possess any valid passport or travel papers at the time of his detention.

As part of the investigation, security personnel recovered ₹31,460 in cash and two mobile phones from his possession. According to other reports, investigators also seized a Chinese passport, Nepalese currency, religious books, an AI-powered translation device, a diary, a wristwatch and several personal belongings. All the recovered materials are being examined to determine their relevance to the case and to verify Brown’s movements across different countries.

Officials said multiple central intelligence and security agencies are now working to establish Brown’s identity, reconstruct his international travel history and determine how he entered India. His claims regarding travel through Thailand, Sri Lanka and India are also being cross-checked with immigration records and other available evidence.

Investigators have stated that no evidence of suspicious or anti-national links has emerged so far. However, they emphasised that the inquiry remains at a preliminary stage and all aspects of the case are being thoroughly examined.

Authorities said further legal action will depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigation and the verification of the documents and statements provided by Brown.