Bhubaneswar: The anti money laundering probe agency has recently busted one of the biggest illegal trafficking of Indian youths to United States of America.
The Enforcement Directorate has unearthed how Indian agents, entities and Canada-based colleges have formed a network to orchestrate biggest illegal trafficking to US from India.
The ED has detailed how 3500 agents were on prowl across the country to trap students from various states and send them illegally to US via the Canada route. The agency Tuesday revealed the modus operandi of illegal trafficking of humans from the country.
For transporting them illegally to US, the agents charge hefty amount of Rs 55 -60 lakh per person, ED investigations revealed.
MODUS OPERANDI
As per the ED investigation, for sending the Indian National(s) to USA illegally, the accused followed the following modus operandi.
- Arranged admission of the individuals in Colleges/Universities based in Canada and thereby applied for students’ visa for Canada.
- Once the individuals/students reach Canada, instead of joining the college, they illegally crossed the US-Canada Border and never joined college(s) in Canada.
- In view of it, the fee received by colleges based in Canada was remitted back to the individuals’ account.
According to investigation by ED, a total of two entities based in Mumbai and Nagpur have entered into an agreement for admission of students in universities based in foreign countries on commission basis with an entity, which was contacted by a desirous student for immigrating to USA illegally.
WHAT ED RAID FOUND?
During searches conducted, the ED unraveled how around 25,000 students are being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by another to various colleges based outside India every year.
Further, the agency traced the dealing between students and the two entities to around 1700 agents/partners of based in Gujarat and
- around 3500 agents/partners of other entity all spread over India and
- out of which around 800 are active.
- It is further revealed that around 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into agreement with one entity
- and more than 150 with another entity.
As per ED release, the involvement of Canada-based colleges in the instant case is under investigation.
HOW ED UNEARTHED TRAFFICKING RACKET?
As per the ED Release, Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ahmedabad Zonal Office has conducted search operations on Dec 10 and Dec 19, 2024, under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002 at 8 locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Vadodara as part of the ongoing probe in the case of Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others (Dingucha case) for hatching a well-planned conspiracy, to send the victims/persons to USA through Canada via illegal channel thereby committing the offence of human trafficking.
During the course of search operations Bank accounts to the tune of approx Rs 19 Lakh were frozen and various other incriminating documents & digital devices have been seized. Further, 02 vehicles were also seized.
ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR registered by DCB, Crime Branch, Ahmedabad City, Gujarat against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others after a family of 4 Indian nationals of Dingucha village, Gujarat was found dead on Canada-US Border January 19, 2022.
All the accused, in conspiracy with each other, lured the innocent Indian Nationals by charging them huge amount of Rs. 55 to 60 Lakh per person, for causing them to illegally enter USA through Canada.
