NIA arrests key accused involved in human trafficking to US via ‘donkey route’ The case was based on a complaint filed by Punjab man who had been deported back to India by the US authorities earlier this month.Amid the US deportation of illegal Indian immigrants, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested a key accused involved in human trafficking through the infamous donkey route.Gagandeep Singh alias Goldie, a resident of Tilak Nagar in Delhi, was arrested based on a complaint filed by a man hailing from Tarn Taran district of Punjab.
The victim, who was deported back to India by the US authorities earlier this month, said he had paid around Rs 45 Lakh to the accused agent for the illegal immigration.“The victim was deported to India on February 15 and thereafter filed the complaint against the accused agent,” the NIA said in a statement.The case was originally registered by the Punjab Police and taken over by NIA on March 13.NIA investigations revealed that Goldy, who did not possess any licence, legal permit or registration for sending persons abroad, had used the donkey route and sent the victim to the US via Spain, Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.
The agency further claimed that the donkers and associates of Goldie had even beaten up and exploited the victim, besides snatching the dollars he was carrying, during the arduous journey.The donkey route is an extremely risky illegal migration path, controlled by human traffickers and spanning multiple countries. The migrants, who do not have proper travel documents, opt for this route to reach the US and European countries in search of jobs and better living.Quite often, the agents exploit the travellers, charging them exorbitant rates—from Rs 30-40 lakh to one crore—and giving fake promises.The donkey route to the US usually begins with Latin American countries, such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil, and Venezuela, where visa facilities are available for Indians.The travellers have to cross the Darian Gap jungle between Colombia and Panama, a place known for wild animals and criminal gangs.Crossing the Rio Grande River on the Mexico-US border is also a big risk for migrants