260 Canadian colleges linked to human trafficking syndicate, facilitating illegal immigration for money: ED

ED investigation uncovers Canadian colleges’ role in human trafficking network

Three years after the tragic deaths of a Gujarati family—Jagdish Patel (39), his wife Vaishali (35), their 11-year-old daughter, and 3-year-old son—who froze to death while attempting to illegally cross the US-Canada border in January 2022, a money laundering probe by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a vast international human trafficking network. The network reportedly involves 260 Canadian colleges issuing student visas to facilitate illegal migration, according to a report by the Times of India.

Key findings from the investigation

Student visas used for illegal migration

• Agents arranged for Indian migrants to secure admission to Canadian colleges and universities on student visas.
• Instead of attending colleges, these individuals were smuggled across the US-Canada border into the United States.
• Migrants paid agents approximately Rs.50-60 lakh to use this route, referred to as the “student visa path,” avoiding the riskier “dunkey route.”

Search operations and active agents

• The ED conducted searches on December 10 and 19, 2024, at eight locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara.
• Investigations revealed that:
  • Two agents in Mumbai and Nagpur facilitated the migration of 35,000 individuals annually.
  • 1,700 agents in Gujarat and 3,500 across India were part of the racket.
    Despite efforts to dismantle the network, over 800 agents remain active.

Primary accused and criminal complaints

• Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, identified as the primary accused, along with several others, is under investigation for orchestrating a human trafficking conspiracy.
• The ED has filed a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) based on an FIR from Ahmedabad police.

Illegal immigration statistics

• Over 14,000 Indian migrants were arrested at the US-Canada border in the past year.
• The United States estimates that around 725,000 undocumented Indians currently reside in the country.

Canada’s student visa system under scrutiny

Link to illegal migration

• The Canadian colleges involved in the racket allegedly received payments from migrants and funneled them back to agents.
• Canada’s immigration policies have come under scrutiny as reports suggest that even high-profile suspects, such as two accused in the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar, entered the country on student visas.

Economic contributions of international students

• Canada had over 1 million international student visa holders as of December 2023.
  International education contributes $22 billion annually to the Canadian economy, supporting over 200,000 jobs.
• Indian students make up a significant portion, with 427,000 students contributing approximately $18 billion annually.

Conclusion

The ED’s findings highlight the exploitation of Canada’s student visa system by human trafficking networks. The investigation underscores the urgent need for tighter immigration controls and collaborative international efforts to curb illegal migration and protect genuine students. As this case unfolds, the involvement of Canadian institutions and agents across India raises serious questions about the integrity of global immigration systems.

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