The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is investigating the alleged involvement of certain Canadian colleges and Indian organizations in a money laundering case related to the smuggling of Indian people into the United States through the Canada-US border, reported news agency PTI.
The investigation stems from the tragic death of a family of four from Dingucha village in Gujarat, who were exposed to freezing cold while trying to cross the border illegally on January 19, 2022.
The ED started its investigation after taking cognizance of the FIR filed by the Ahmedabad police against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others. Patel is accused of conspiring to smuggle Indian people to the United States via Canada using illegal channels. A case has been registered under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
According to the ED, the accused facilitated the admission of people to Canadian colleges and universities as part of a smuggling network.
These people applied for Canadian student visas but, when they arrived in Canada, they did not go to the institutions. Instead, they cross the border illegally into the United States.
The ED alleged that the money paid to these Canadian colleges was returned to people’s accounts, raising suspicions of collusion between these institutions.
Indian citizens seeking to enter the US through this racket were reportedly charged between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh each.
In its ongoing investigation, the ED conducted searches at eight locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara on December 10 and 19.
The search found two organizations, one based in Mumbai and the other in Nagpur, which had agreements with foreign universities to facilitate the admission of students through the commission.
The level of activity is staggering, with one organization transferring around 25,000 students a year to international colleges, and another sending over 10,000.
The investigation also revealed the involvement of 1,700 agents or partners in Gujarat and 3,500 across India, of which about 800 are currently active.
In addition, the ED revealed that 112 Canadian colleges have agreements with one of the organizations under investigation, while another organization was connected to more than 150 colleges.
Of the 262 such facilities in Canada, the ED suspects that several near the Canada-US border may be directly involved in human trafficking activities.
The ED froze a bank deposit of Rs 19 lakh, seized two vehicles, and seized incriminating documents and digital devices during its search.
Two people, including one of Indian origin, have been convicted of the death of four family members who contracted severe cold. Both men, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, also known as ‘Dirty Harry,’ and Steve Anthony Shand were convicted of human trafficking, including conspiracy to smuggle illegal immigrants into the US.
According to court documents, the two men were part of a large-scale Indian smuggling operation that brought them into the United States through Canada. The scheme involved bringing people to Canada on student visas, then illegally crossing the border into the US.
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