ED begins money laundering probe in trafficking of Indian nationals to the United States via Canada
Indian nationals seeking entry into the US through this network reportedly paid between Rs. 55 lakh and Rs. 60 lakh each
New Delhi, December 26
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating a money laundering operation linked to the trafficking of Indian nationals to the United States via Canada.
The investigation began after an FIR was filed by Ahmedabad Police against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others, who are accused of orchestrating a network facilitating illegal migration to the United States through Canada. Patel allegedly helped individuals gain admission to Canadian colleges as part of the trafficking scheme.
As per the probe, these individuals applied for Canadian student visas but failed to attend the designated institutions upon arrival. Instead, they used illegal routes to cross into the United States. The colleges allegedly refunded fees to the students’ accounts, raising suspicions of their complicity.
Indian nationals seeking entry into the US through this network reportedly paid between Rs. 55 lakh and Rs. 60 lakh each.
The ED conducted searches across eight locations, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, uncovering two entities operating as intermediaries for student admissions to foreign universities.
The ED has frozen Rs 19 lakh in bank accounts, seized vehicles, and confiscated documents and digital devices as part of its investigation.
The deaths of a four-member family from Dingucha village in Gujarat, who succumbed to extreme cold while attempting to cross into the US, led to convictions for two men involved in human smuggling. Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, known as 'Dirty Harry,' and Steve Anthony Shand were found guilty of conspiring to smuggle migrants into the US illegally.
