ED Uncovers 262 Canadian Colleges Linked to Human Trafficking Network

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) uncovered a human trafficking network involving 262 Canadian colleges, where agreements with two Indian entities facilitated the illegal immigration of students to the US via Canada. The ED's ongoing investigation has led to significant seizures and arrests, highlighting the scale of the operation.

In a significant investigation, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a vast human trafficking operation involving 262 Canadian colleges. These institutions allegedly made agreements with two Indian entities, which are said to be part of a larger trafficking network.

According to the ED, the investigation revealed that approximately 112 Canadian colleges had agreements with one Indian entity, and over 150 colleges had deals with another. The agency further discovered that around 1,700 agents in Gujarat and 3,500 agents across India were involved in this operation, with about 800 agents currently active.

The investigation stems from an FIR filed by the Ahmedabad Crime Branch following the tragic death of a family of four from Dingucha village, Gujarat, at the Canada-US border in January 2022. The case is part of a broader probe into a network facilitating illegal immigration.

As part of its investigation, the ED conducted search operations across multiple cities, including Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, leading to the seizure of ₹19 lakh in bank accounts, as well as incriminating documents and digital devices. The ED also confiscated two vehicles involved in the trafficking operation.

The accused in the case allegedly lured Indian nationals with promises of illegal entry into the US via Canada, charging victims between ₹55 to 60 lakh each. They arranged for these individuals to enroll in Canadian colleges, but instead of attending classes, they crossed the US-Canada border illegally. The fees paid to these colleges were reportedly refunded to the victims.

Also Read: Agra Gym Trainer Poses as RAW Agent, Accused of Raping Canadian Woman After Tinder Meeting

This operation is believed to involve the referral of around 25,000 students annually by one entity and 10,000 students by another, to various foreign colleges, with the intent of facilitating their illegal immigration.