After Matthew VanDyke, another US national with an alleged military background arrested near the India-Nepal border: Who is Jordan Brown?

A video has surfaced online showing Jordan Brown surrounded by locals, although a shirtless Brown remained unusually calm. (Image: Stills taken from the viral video)

On 11th July, a 36-year-old US citizen identified as Jordan Brown was arrested near the India-Nepal border in the Mainihwa area under Sonauli police station limits in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj. The US national was arrested by the Sahastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel.

A video has surfaced online showing Jordan Brown surrounded by locals, although a shirtless Brown remained unusually calm.

The US national, who claims to be from California, was arrested while allegedly attempting to cross into Nepal without a passport, visa and other legal documents via an unauthorised foot trail near the India-Nepal border.

He was intercepted at Borde Pillar number 516 under the Bhagwanpur police outpost in Sonauli. Brown was not using the designated immigration route.

SSB personnel on patrol duty spotted Jordan Brown and asked him to stop, but he reportedly attempted to flee. However, the security chased, overpowered and eventually took him into custody.

During questioning, Jordan Brown gave contradictory answers about his identity and purpose of travel, further fuelling suspicion. Consequently, the police and intelligence agencies initiated a thorough probe into Brown’s claims.

As per SHO Mahendra Mishra, Jordan Brown claimed that he is from California and has travelled to over 70 countries. Brown even claimed to have served in the US Navy and Special Forces for six years and quit military service two years ago.

When asked about his visit to India, Brown claimed that he arrived in Goa from the US in May 2026 and stayed there for around six weeks. He then travelled to Bengaluru, and thereon, Brown boarded a bus to Lucknow on 8th July. From thereon, Brown reached Gorakhpur and eventually hired a taxi to reach the Sonauli border.

Jordan Brown told the investigators that he wanted to enter Nepal to meet a person identified as “Naz”, a Nepali citizen he claimed to have befriended in Goa.

When inquired about his passport and other documents, Jordan Brown claimed that his passport was with an acquaintance in Bengaluru. However, Brown failed to give the proper name and address of the supposed ‘acquaintance’.

Brown also claimed to have married an Indian yoga instructor from Uttarakhand in Italy in October 2024. He claimed to have met her three years ago.

The US national’s arrest came amidst mounting concerns over foreign nationals, especially with a US military background, entering India under unusual circumstances and indulging in suspicious activities. Jordan Brown’s arrest came just months after a US mercenary, Matthew VanDyke and six Ukrainian nationals were arrested by the NIA on 13th March after they entered Mizoram without valid permits and also reached Myanmar illegally. They made contact with banned organisations associated with militancy and provided them with weapons, including drones and other terrorist hardware, along with training.

Written by Shraddha Pandey
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