INDIA’S Directorate of Enforcement (ED) says that “around 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into agreement with one entity and more than 150 with another entity” in India to send thousands of students illegally to the U.S.
In a press release on December 24, it said that its “investigation revealed that for sending the Indian national(s) to USA illegally, the accused 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.”
It added: “In view of it, the fee received by colleges based in Canada was remitted back to the individuals’ account. It is gathered that 2 entities based in Mumbai and Nagpur have entered into 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.
“It is revealed during searches conducted that 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, it is gathered that there are around 1700 agents / partners of based in Gujarat and around 3500 agents / partners of other entity all 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. Their involvement in the instant case is under investigation.”
THE ED said that its Ahmedabad Zonal Office conducted search operations on December 10 and December 19 under the provisions of Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, at eight 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.
(Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel allegedly arranged the travel of Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife, Vaishali, 37, their daughter, Vihangi, 11, and son, Dharmik, 3, who were found just 12 metres from the border between Manitoba and the United States on January 19, 2022.)
The ED said that “during the course of search operations, bank accounts to the tune of Rs. 19 lakhs [Rs. 1.9 million] (approx.) were frozen” and that “various other incriminating documents and digital devices” and two vehicles were seized.
It added: “ED initiated investigation on the basis of FIR [First Information Report] 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 lakhs [Rs. 5.5 to 6 million] per person, for causing them to illegally enter USA through Canada.”
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