Illegal human smuggling has plagued Punjab for decades, turning countless dreams of a better life abroad into nightmares. Despite laws, awareness campaigns, and international crackdowns, the trend continues unabated. Young men, women, and even minors are still falling prey to traffickers who exploit economic desperation, unemployment, and false promises of jobs or visas. Punjab’s geographic and socio-economic landscape, coupled with an extensive network of illegal travel agents, has made it a major hub for this dangerous trade.
Over the last three years alone, Punjab police have registered 3,225 First Information Reports (FIRs) against travel agents involved in illegal migration activities. Of these, over 1,100 FIRs have been filed under the Punjab Prevention of Human Smuggling Act, 2012, highlighting the growing concern. These cases often revolve around unregistered agents operating without licenses, who charge lakhs of rupees in exchange for fake documents, false job offers, and dangerous routes through countries like Iran, Turkey, and even Latin America.
One of the most alarming aspects of this crisis is the trafficking of women from Punjab to Gulf countries such as Oman, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. These women are typically promised domestic jobs with fair salaries but end up trapped in exploitative conditions—often working without pay, suffering abuse, and being denied the right to return home. Despite the danger, many still agree to these deals due to financial stress, social pressure, or being misled. According to social organizations and government sources, over 100 women have been rescued and repatriated in the past year alone. The efforts of individuals like AAP Rajya Sabha MP Vikramjit Singh Sahney, whose Mission Hope project brought back 82 trafficked women between May and September 2023, have been pivotal in exposing the scale of this tragedy.
The problem, however, is far from over. In February 2025, three chartered flights deported 333 Indian migrants from Gulf nations, of which 126 were from Punjab. Among them were 42 women and 29 children—a staggering indicator that not just individuals, but entire families are being affected. Many of these people recount tales of being confined by employers, denied wages, or even beaten when they tried to contact authorities. NGOs and Indian embassies regularly intervene, but the volume of such cases outpaces the rescue efforts.
Despite widespread awareness about the life-threatening risks, thousands still choose these illegal routes. The reasons are complex. Punjab continues to grapple with high youth unemployment, agrarian distress, and low industrial growth. For many, legal immigration is either unaffordable or blocked by red tape, leaving them to turn to illegal travel agents as a last resort. The so-called “success stories” of migrants who made it abroad fuel the belief that risks are worth taking—even when evidence points to widespread exploitation.
Recently, the Government of India reported a success story that sheds light on the ongoing battle. Three young boys from Punjab, who had gone missing and were suspected victims of a smuggling racket, were rescued from Iran. The boys were reportedly being transported toward Europe via a complex and hazardous route through Iran and Turkey. The operation, coordinated by Indian and Iranian authorities, helped reunite the boys with their families—but it also underlined how active these smuggling routes still are.
As Punjab’s young population continues to seek opportunities abroad, the lure of illegal channels remains strong. Without robust law enforcement, better employment opportunities at home, and international collaboration, the state will continue to bleed its youth to a brutal underworld of deception and abuse. The need of the hour is not just to crack down on illegal agents, but also to offer safe, legal, and transparent pathways for migration, so that the dreams of Punjab’s people are not buried under the weight of tragedy.