India alleges Canadian colleges linked to trafficking foreign students over Canada-U.S. border
Indian law enforcement agencies are currently investigating alleged links between dozens of colleges in Canada and two entities in Mumbai that are accused of illegally ferrying students across the Canada-U.S. border. This investigation was initiated by India’s Enforcement Directorate, a multi-disciplinary organization that focuses on issues related to money laundering and foreign exchange laws. According to a news release issued on Tuesday, the agency has discovered incriminating evidence of human trafficking in this case.
The allegations have not yet been tested in court, and several key stakeholders including the federal government, the RCMP, the Indian high commission in Ottawa, and multiple Canadian college officials have not yet provided comments on the matter. The U.S. Embassy has also declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.
The investigation was prompted by the tragic deaths of Jagdish Baldevbhai Patel, his wife, and two children near a border crossing between Manitoba and the United States on January 19, 2022. The family froze to death while attempting to cross the Canada-U.S. border into Minnesota. Subsequently, two individuals – Steve Shand of Florida and Harshkumar Patel, an Indian national arrested in Chicago – were found guilty of charges related to human smuggling in a Minnesota court. The pair were involved in a scheme to bring unauthorized individuals into the U.S. and profit from it, with tragic consequences for the Patel family.
The Enforcement Directorate’s investigation is centered around Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who allegedly arranged the Patel family’s travel across the border. It is alleged that each member of the family paid between $93,000 and $102,000 for this illegal crossing. The incident, known as the Dingucha case in India, has shed light on a larger network of human trafficking and illegal border crossings facilitated by entities in Mumbai.
The investigation has revealed that individuals were promised admission to Canadian colleges in exchange for hefty fees, only to be illegally transported across the U.S.-Canada border instead of joining the educational institutions. The Enforcement Directorate claims that over 100 colleges in Canada have been involved in this scheme, with thousands of students being referred to these colleges by the two entities under investigation.
Law enforcement officials have conducted searches in multiple cities across India and have identified a network of agents involved in this illegal operation. The investigation has uncovered thousands of students being referred to Canadian colleges each year, with the promise of admission and student visas as a cover for their true intentions of crossing the border illegally.
Authorities are urging individuals who wish to study or work abroad to follow legal channels and avoid falling prey to such illegal schemes. The investigation is ongoing, and collaboration between Indian and international law enforcement agencies is crucial to dismantle this network of human trafficking and illegal border crossings.
This news comes at a time of heightened tensions between Canada, the U.S., and India over border security, international student policies, and diplomatic issues. The need for cooperation and vigilance in addressing these challenges is paramount to ensure the safety and security of individuals seeking opportunities abroad.
