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Over 60 individuals from Gujarat, part of the Nicaragua flight recently turned away from France due to suspected human trafficking, allegedly agreed to pay immigration agents between Rs 60 lakh to Rs 80 lakh for illegal entry into the US. The Airbus A340, carrying 303 passengers, including 260 Indians, was grounded in France for four days before landing in Mumbai on December 26. Among the passengers were 66 from Gujarat, now back in their native places. According to the CID, these passengers, mainly from Mehsana, Ahmedabad, Gandhinagar, and Anand districts, had planned to enter the US illegally via Nicaragua with the assistance of immigration agents.
The passengers, mostly educated till Class 8 to 12, admitted to agreeing to pay the hefty sums to local immigration agents. The CID has identified around 15 agents involved, who promised to facilitate illegal entry through the US-Mexico border. These agents had instructed the passengers to pay the agreed-upon amounts only upon reaching the US. The plan involved reaching Dubai between December 10 and 20, boarding the Nicaragua-bound flight on December 21, and then continuing the journey to the US border from Nicaragua. The agents had booked air tickets and provided USD 1,000 to 3,000 to each passenger for emergencies.
The CID has contacted the CBI to gather more information on the agents, including details on their Dubai visas, bank transactions for visa fees, acquisition of Nicaraguan visas in Dubai, and flight bookings. The chartered flight, operated by Legend Airlines, was en route to Nicaragua when French authorities intervened during a technical stopover near Paris on December 21, triggering a judicial investigation into possible human trafficking. Nicaragua has recently become a sought-after destination for asylum seekers.
Notably, the attempt to enter the US illegally is part of a larger trend, with 96,917 Indians making such attempts in the financial year 2023, indicating a 51.61% increase from the previous year. CBP data reveals that 41,770 Indians tried to enter the US via the Mexican land border. Flights to Nicaragua and other countries with lax travel document requirements are colloquially known as ‘dunki’ flights, highlighting the increasing challenges posed by illegal immigration routes.
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