NEW DELHI ,A flight carrying over 300 Indians, originally destined for Nicaragua, faced a four-day delay in France, ultimately returning to India amid suspicions of “human trafficking.”
Dubbed the “donkey flight,” French authorities intervened at Chalons-Vatry airport after an anonymous tip suggested the presence of illegal immigrants from India.
This incident coincided with the release of the Shah Rukh Khan-starrer ‘Dunki’ on December 21, a comedy-drama exploring the “donkey route” – an immigration method to enter the US, UK, and Canada.
Understanding the ‘Donkey Route’:
– The term originates from the Punjabi word “dunki,” signifying movement.
– It involves illegal border crossings through indirect routes with multiple stops.
– Individuals might secure a tourist visa for the European Union’s Schengen Area, allowing free movement across 26 countries, then illegally enter the UK with the assistance of “consultants” or “agents.”
– Agents charge hefty fees for services, ranging from fake documentation to smuggling via shipping containers.
– Despite serious risks, thousands of Indians attempt entry into the United States, Canada, or European countries through these methods.
– US Customs and Border Protection data revealed 96,917 Indians apprehended while unlawfully crossing into the US between October 2022 and September 2023.
The ‘Donkey Route’ Journey:
– Initiates in Latin American countries like Ecuador, Bolivia, or Guyana, where Indians secure visas or tourist visas.
– Agents arrange direct visas for Mexico from Dubai.
– From Latin America, migrants travel to Colombia, crossing the perilous Darién Gap forest, home to wild animals.
– The journey continues through Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Guatemala, Honduras, and eventually back to India.
– The process can take up to two years, considering various factors like weather conditions and political situations.
Persistent Concern:
The practice of “donkey flights” has long been a concern. Human smugglers arrange chartered planes, facilitating illegal immigrants’ entry into the US from Nicaragua via the Mexico border.
Law enforcement agencies flagged these flights as suspicious since they only operated one-way trips, never returning from Nicaragua.
Kingpin in the Case:
Shashi Kiran Reddy from Hyderabad, identified as the kingpin in the France-bound plane case, regularly organized flights to Nicaragua. Once reaching Nicaragua, illegal immigrants would embark on a 3,100-km road journey to Mexico or a boat journey to Miami via Cancun and Havana.
Sources in law enforcement indicated that while many Indians are caught in the US yearly, few are deported, some obtaining shelter on humanitarian grounds.
