A 36-year-old US citizen has come under the scanner of Indian security agencies after he was detained while allegedly attempting to cross into Nepal through the India-Nepal border without valid travel documents.The man, identified as Jordan Brown, was apprehended by the Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) during a routine patrol near border pillar number 516 in the Mainihwa area under the Sonauli police station limits in Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj district on July 11, officials said.Authorities said Brown claimed to be a resident of California, United States. According to police, he was unable to produce valid travel documents while trying to enter Nepal.No suspicious links found so farOfficials said multiple central intelligence and security agencies have questioned Brown. However, no evidence of suspicious or anti-national links has emerged so far.A senior police officer said agencies are independently verifying Brown’s identity, travel history, previous foreign visits and the circumstances under which he entered India.What Brown told investigatorsDuring questioning, Brown told investigators that he had travelled to Thailand on a tourist visa, where he allegedly lost his passport. He claimed he later reached Sri Lanka by sea before entering India through the sea route in November 2025.According to Maharajganj Additional Superintendent of Police Siddharth, Brown said he had been living in Goa before travelling towards the India-Nepal border.”Yesterday, on July 11, the SSB apprehended an individual near Sonauli for attempting to enter Nepal without authorisation. Upon questioning, he identified himself as Jordan Brown and stated that he is a US citizen from California,” the officer said in a video statement.He added that Brown’s claims are being verified and a case has been registered under Sections 21 and 23 of the Immigration and Foreigners Act for allegedly entering India without valid documents.How he was detainedOfficials said Brown had travelled from Bengaluru to the Sonauli border with the intention of entering Nepal.According to the SSB, Brown allegedly attempted to flee after personnel stopped him for document verification but was chased and detained.The Sonauli border, connecting Uttar Pradesh’s Maharajganj district with Bhairahawa in Nepal’s Rupandehi district, is one of the busiest land transit points between India and Nepal.Items recoveredAccording to PTI, the SSB recovered ₹31,460 in cash and two mobile phones from Brown during the search.Separately, Hindustan Times, citing officials, reported that investigators also recovered Nepalese currency, religious books, an AI translator device, a Chinese passport, a diary, a wristwatch and other belongings from his possession.Officials have not confirmed the ownership or authenticity of the reported Chinese passport, and said all recovered items are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.The probe is continuing, with agencies verifying Brown’s claims and the documents and articles recovered during his detention.