ED probes Canadian colleges in money laundering case linked to trafficking of Indian nationals to US
PTC News Desk: The Enforcement Directorate is probing the Canadian colleges over their alleged involvement in trafficking of Indian students to the United States. Along with Canadian colleges, the agency is investigating Indian entities in a money laundering case linked to the trafficking of Indian nationals into the United States through the Canada-US border.
The investigation follows after a four member family from Dingucha village in Gujarat succumbed to extreme cold weather during their attempt to cross the border illegally.
The ED's inquiry stems from an FIR filed by Ahmedabad police against prime accused Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and several others. According to the investigating agency, the accused perpetrated a well planned conspiracy to facilitate traffic of Indian nationals to the Unites States through Canada via illegal means.
The case has been registered under the criminal provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has claimed that the fees paid to Canadian colleges were transferred back to the individuals' accounts, suggesting potential complicity of the institutions.
Indian nationals attempting to enter the US through this scheme were reportedly charged between Rs 55 lakh and Rs 60 lakh each. As part of its ongoing probe, the ED conducted searches at eight locations across Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara on December 10 and 19.
During these searches, two entities were identified: one in Mumbai and the other in Nagpur, both of which had agreements with foreign universities to facilitate student admissions for a commission.
The operation's scale is vast, with one entity referring around 25,000 students annually to foreign colleges, while the other sends more than 10,000.
The investigation has also uncovered the involvement of 1,700 agents or partners in Gujarat and 3,500 across India, with approximately 800 being currently active.
Additionally, the ED revealed that 112 Canadian colleges were linked to one of the entities under investigation, while another entity was connected to over 150 colleges. Out of 262 such institutions in Canada, the ED suspects that several near the Canada-US border may be directly engaged in human trafficking.
The ED has frozen Rs 19 lakh in bank accounts, seized two vehicles, and confiscated incriminating documents and digital devices during its searches.
Two individuals, including an Indian national, were convicted for the deaths of four family members who perished due to extreme cold. Both Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, known as 'Dirty Harry,' and Steve Anthony Shand were convicted for human smuggling, including conspiracy to illegally transport migrants into the US.
Court documents indicate that both men were part of a large-scale operation smuggling Indian nationals into the US via Canada. The scheme involved bringing individuals to Canada on student visas and then illegally crossing them into the US.
- With inputs from agencies
