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Indian law enforcement agencies are currently investigating potential connections between numerous Canadian colleges and two entities based in Mumbai, accused of facilitating illegal student crossings over the Canada-U.S. border.
A news announcement from India’s Enforcement Directorate, which investigates money laundering and violations of foreign exchange laws, indicated that searches across multiple cities have uncovered “incriminating” evidence suggestive of “human trafficking.”
These serious allegations have yet to be substantiated in a court setting. As of now, the federal government, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP), the Indian High Commission in Ottawa, and officials from various Canadian colleges have not commented on the situation.
The U.S. embassy has also refrained from making a statement on the matter.
This investigation was prompted by the discovery of Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, 39, along with his wife and two children, who were found deceased near a border crossing between Manitoba and the U.S. on January 19, 2022.
In a recent court ruling, a Minnesota jury convicted two individuals—Steve Shand from Florida and Harshkumar Patel, an Indian national arrested in Chicago—on multiple counts related to smuggling unauthorized individuals into the U.S. and profiting from their transport.
It is noteworthy that Patel is a common surname in India, and the family in question is not related to the accused individuals.
During the trial, prosecutors established that Harshkumar Patel orchestrated a complex smuggling operation, while Shand served as the driver responsible for picking up Indian migrants on the Minnesota side of the border. Unfortunately, out of eleven migrants, only seven managed to survive the dangerous crossing into frigid territory, while the Patel family was later found deceased by Canadian authorities.
As of now, both Shand and Patel await sentencing and may pursue appeals.
The Enforcement Directorate’s recent findings follow a specific report concerning Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who allegedly facilitated the travel plans for the deceased family. Reports suggest that each family member was charged between $93,000 and $102,000 for the journey from Canada to the U.S.
Understanding the Broader Implications
This incident has since gained notoriety in India, referred to as the Dingucha case, named after the village in Gujarat where the family originated. In light of this, officials from the Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at eight locations last week across Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara.
According to the agency, Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel is alleged to have assisted students in gaining admission to Canadian colleges, which then facilitated their student visas. Unfortunately, the announcement did not specify which institutions may be involved in these allegations.
The investigation reveals that many of these students, once arriving in Canada, bypassed their educational commitments and illegally crossed over into the United States instead, leading to substantial refunds on their college admission fees.
The search efforts indicate that around 25,000 students were referred by one entity for admission to foreign colleges annually, while another entity was responsible for over 10,000 referrals. This network reportedly employs about 1,700 agents within Gujarat alone, with 3,500 throughout India, 800 of whom are active in such operations.
The news release outlines that approximately 112 Canadian colleges have established agreements with one of these entities, while over 150 colleges are connected with the other. However, it remains unclear if any institutions have affiliations with both.
Anil Pratham, a former senior police official in Gujarat, has been involved in investigating the case since the Patel family’s tragic death. In an interview, he explained the lengthy investigative process, emphasizing the importance of collecting information from local communities and victim testimonies.
He expressed his ongoing concern about the methods used to smuggle individuals abroad, suggesting there are lawful avenues available for those wishing to study or work in other countries.
The timing of this investigation coincides with heightened tensions between the U.S. and Canada over border security, a shift in Canadian policy regarding international students, and diplomatic disputes with India over allegations of surveillance targeting Sikh activists within Canada. In response to rising border issues, the Canadian government has allocated significant resources to address these challenges.
Highlighting the broader implications, Canada recently expunged the credentials of six Indian diplomats amidst claims that they employed their diplomatic status to collate intelligence on Canadian citizens, passing this information to criminal groups. Canada has also accused India’s home affairs minister of orchestrating operations against Sikh separatists advocating for an independent state within India, a claim that New Delhi vehemently disputes.
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globalnews.ca