This Post Is Recently Updated on Dec 27, 2023 @ 22:02 pm by TBB Desk
In a concerning incident, a chartered flight bound for Nicaragua with 276 Indian passengers on board was grounded in France on December 21, 2023. The flight, operated by Romanian charter company Legend Airlines, originated in Fujairah and was scheduled to make a technical stopover. However, French authorities intervened, suspecting human trafficking involvement, and launched a judicial investigation to scrutinize the circumstances and purpose of the trip.
The Investigation Unfolds
The Gujarat Police and the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) have taken swift action to investigate the incident. They are currently focusing their efforts on 21 passengers from Gujarat, India, who are believed to be linked to an immigration racket. These passengers, hailing from various districts including Banaskantha, Mehsana, Gandhinagar, Anand, and Patan, were allegedly promised a route to the United States via Mexico by a group of agents involved in the racket.
Approximately six agents from Gujarat are suspected of being connected to this immigration racket. To delve deeper into this matter, the CID has formed four investigative teams, each led by deputy superintendents of police. The authorities are diligently working to identify and locate these agents. Among the agents, Kiran Patel, a known operator in illegal immigration, is of particular interest. He is believed to be based in Ahmedabad but has remained untraceable since the flight was grounded in France.
The Immigration Route
The passengers on board the chartered flight had embarked with the intention of traveling to Nicaragua and then continuing their journey to the United States via Mexico using the “donkey route.” This route has gained notoriety for its relatively lax process in obtaining travel documents.
Intriguingly, some passengers from Gujarat may have decided to remain in France, possibly in pursuit of seeking asylum. As authorities investigate, they are meticulously verifying the status of all passengers who were on board the grounded flight.
Alarming Increase in Immigration Attempts
The incident sheds light on the escalating challenges of illegal immigration. Recent data from the US Customs and Border Patrol (CBP) reveals a substantial increase in Indian nationals attempting to enter the US illegally in the fiscal year 2023. The figures indicate a 51.61% surge from the previous year, with at least 41,770 Indians attempting to enter the US via the Mexican land border.
These alarming statistics underscore the attractiveness of flights to Nicaragua or other third countries, where obtaining travel documents is relatively straightforward. Such routes have come to be known as “dunki” or “donkey route” flights.
Ongoing Investigation
As the investigation unfolds, authorities are meticulously examining travel documents, interrogating passengers and their relatives, and collecting evidence to determine the full extent of the immigration racket. Agents involved in this alleged scam are likely to face legal consequences as the case progresses.
The situation is fluid, and further updates on the investigation will be provided as they become available.
