India exposes human trafficking network involving 262 Canadian colleges, smuggling Indians into the US
New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): Indian law enforcement has uncovered the involvement of 262 Canadian colleges and several Indian entities in a money laundering case tied to the trafficking of Indian nationals into the United States via the Canada-US border. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) revealed on Tuesday that the investigation stems from the death of a four-member Indian family from Dingucha village in Gujarat. This family perished on January 19, 2022, due to extreme cold while attempting an illegal border crossing. The ED launched its probe based on a First Information Report (FIR) filed by Ahmedabad Police against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and other individuals. Patel is accused of orchestrating a conspiracy to send Indians to the US through Canada via illegal channels, constituting human trafficking offenses.
Modus Operandi: Canadian colleges as a gateway
As part of the scheme, individuals seeking to illegally enter the US were “admitted” to Canadian colleges and universities. They obtained Canadian student visas but, upon arrival, crossed the border into the US without ever attending the colleges. According to the ED, the tuition fees paid to these institutions were refunded to the individuals' accounts.
Indians charged exorbitant fees
The accused charged between ₹55 lakh and ₹60 lakh per person for facilitating these illegal migrations. The ED conducted searches on December 10 and December 19 across eight locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara.
Entities and agents under scrutiny
The investigation revealed that two entities, one based in Mumbai and the other in Nagpur, had agreements to secure admissions for Indian students in foreign institutions on a commission basis. The ED noted that one entity referred approximately 25,000 students annually, while the other referred over 10,000 students to overseas colleges.
The racket also involved a network of agents, with around 1,700 based in Gujarat and 3,500 across India. Of these, 800 agents remain active. Over 112 Canadian colleges were found to have agreements with one entity, while more than 150 were tied to another.
Border colleges under suspicion
The ED suspects that several of these 262 colleges, particularly those near the Canada-US border, are directly involved in human trafficking operations. Bank deposits worth ₹19 lakh, incriminating documents, digital devices, and two vehicles have been seized as part of the investigation. The ED continues to investigate the extent of these entities' and colleges' roles in the trafficking network, emphasizing the ongoing nature of the probe.
