Gurugram: In the wake of the recent Airbus A340 grounding in Vatry, France, at least 17 FIRs have been filed in Gujarat, unveiling an extensive illegal immigration network that facilitated the entry of Indians into the US and Canada. The syndicate charged individuals between ₹70 lakh and ₹80 lakh for orchestrating the illegal journey, with investigations confirming the involvement of at least 50 travel agents and touts based in India.
One victim, Indravadan Patel, shared his ordeal after discovering the travel agency that took ₹25 lakh as an advance for his son’s journey to the US had shut down. The unfolding situation in France, where Indian passengers were detained over human trafficking fears, exposed the intricate workings of the immigration racket.
The Crime Investigation Department (CID) of the state police arrested two individuals, Kunal Vriya and Sahil, revealing a vast operation involving multiple cities, towns, and villages. These arrests shed light on the syndicate’s modus operandi, involving the forging of bank statements and documents to secure visas and passports for illegal immigrants.
While French authorities allowed the Airbus jet to return with the majority of passengers, some sought asylum, and a few were detained as part of an ongoing human trafficking investigation. The FIRs filed across Ahmedabad, Anand, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, and Patan are linked to the same syndicate.
The detailed FIR against Dineshbhai Baldaniya, owner of Lakshmi Overseas Consultancy in Ahmedabad, accuses him of forging documents, including SSC marksheets, appointment letters, promotion letters, and work experience certificates. The FIR also reveals a network of individuals involved in the illicit operations.
The police disclosed that the syndicate employed a multi-level structure, including touts in villages, sub-agents in Ahmedabad, and kingpins in the US and Canada. Each person attempting the illegal journey paid between ₹70 and ₹80 lakh, with local agents, sub-agents, and documentation expenses receiving their share.
Despite the complex operations, CID officials are actively investigating the case. The suspects used advanced communication methods, such as SIM boxes and virtual private networks (VPNs), to evade tracking. Families involved in the scheme were convinced that the syndicate had legal assistance available in case their relatives faced legal issues upon reaching the destination.
As investigations continue, the police are pursuing the absconding touts and private travel agents involved in the racket.
