NEW DELHI, Dec 25: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is currently probing the suspected involvement of certain Canadian colleges and a number of Indian entities in a money laundering case connected to the trafficking of Indians across the US-Canada border.
This investigation follows the tragic demise of a four-member Indian family from Dingucha village in Gujarat, who succumbed to freezing temperatures while attempting to illegally cross the Canada-US border on January 19, 2022.
According to the ED, it has taken cognizance of an FIR filed by Ahmedabad Police against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who has been identified as the primary suspect, along with several others, prompting the agency to file a complaint under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The allegations against Patel and his accomplices include orchestrating a meticulously devised conspiracy to facilitate the illegal migration of Indians to the USA via Canada, tantamount to human trafficking, the agency revealed.
Previous investigations indicated that as part of this operation, the suspects “secured” admissions for prospective migrants into Canadian colleges and universities.
Once these individuals obtained Canadian student visas, instead of attending classes, they allegedly bypassed legal entries and crossed into the US unlawfully, the statement on Tuesday noted.
“In light of this, the tuition fees paid to the Canadian institutions were reportedly returned to the individuals,” the ED stated.
Potential migrants were “enticed” into this scheme, with fees ranging from Rs 55 lakh to Rs 60 lakh per person, per the ED’s findings.
The agency executed additional searches related to this case on December 10 and December 19 across eight sites in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara.
The ED uncovered that two “entities,” one located in Mumbai and the other in Nagpur, had established a “contract” to manage admissions for Indians in overseas universities for a commission.
Reports suggest that approximately 25,000 students are referred by one entity and over 10,000 by the other annually to various institutions abroad.
“It has also been revealed that around 1,700 agents/partners are based in Gujarat, in addition to about 3,500 affiliates from other regions in India, with roughly 800 being actively engaged.
“Furthermore, it came to light that around 112 Canadian colleges have agreements with one entity, and more than 150 with another, with their roles in the ongoing investigation under scrutiny,” stated the ED.
The agency suspects that among the 262 Canadian colleges surveyed, several situated near the Canada-US border may be implicated in the human trafficking of Indian nationals.
As part of its ongoing investigation, the ED has frozen Rs 19 lakh in bank accounts, seized various “incriminating” documents and digital devices, and confiscated two vehicles. (PTI)
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