The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has initiated an investigation into a human trafficking scheme, i.e., illegally trafficking Indians into the United States via the Canadian border. The key suspects involved are some Indian national entities and some Canadian colleges.
The probe came following the investigation of the tragic death of a family from Gujarat, from extreme cold while attempting to cross the Canada-US border illegally in January 2022.
Suspected of attracting individuals with promises of education, these Canadian colleges reportedly charged gigantic fees, facilitating illegal entry into the United States instead of providing legitimate education through the colleges. The investigation so far has identified around 262 colleges in Canada potentially involved in this illegal working.
About the entities involved:
Searches were conducted across eight locations in India, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhi Nagar, and Vadodara, among others, targeting individuals like Bhavesh Ashok Bhai Patel, suspected of orchestrating the trafficking scheme and sending the victims to the US through Canada via illegal channels. Apart from him, one other suspect is on the hit list of ED, based in Nagpur.
“Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Ahmedabad Zonal Office, has conducted search operations on 10.12.2024 and 19.12.2024, under the provisions of the 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 the USA through Canada via illegal channels, thereby committing the offence of human trafficking,” ED said in a statement.
According to the sources, the two Indian suspects entered into an agreement for the admission of Indians in colleges across Canada on a commission basis.
The ED found that over 112 colleges in Canada partnered with one entity and more than 150 with another for admission agreements related to this trafficking conspiracy.
As per ED officials, the latest searches found that about 25,000 students are being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by the other to foreign colleges annually, facilitating this illegal network.
The culprits reportedly charged between ₹55 lakh and ₹60 lakh per person for their services, luring victims under the pretext of educational opportunities.
The Modus Operandi: –
The chain of events that ultimately led to the completion of the trafficking process is well deciphered by the ED in its probe. These events are:
- Obtaining Canadian student visas for individuals against a large sum of money.
- Then comes the crossing of the so-called “students” into the US rather than attending the Canadian colleges as planned.
- Later, fees received by the college based in Canada are remitted to individual accounts.
Illegal immigration from India to various western and European countries, especially the USA and Canada, to improve their lifestyle and opportunities is a multifaceted issue, involving economic, social, and political dimensions. It affects not only India but also the destination countries and their domestic politics.
While economic disparities, lack of awareness, political and social instability, the influence of agents, etc., are some of the main reasons behind such acts, the racket behind such acts is hard to trace. Brain drain is also a word when it comes to illegal emigration, but domestic opportunities and infrastructure also need to be improved so as to provide a good incentive to individuals not to take illegal measures.
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