In a shocking revelation, India’s Enforcement Directorate (ED) has uncovered a vast human trafficking network involving 262 Canadian colleges and two Indian entities.
The ED’s investigation has linked these institutions to a well-organised conspiracy to illegally transport Indian nationals into the United States via Canada.
The probe, which began following the tragic deaths of a family of four from Dingucha village, Gujarat, at the Canada-US border in January 2022, has exposed the scale of the operation.
According to the ED, 112 Canadian colleges have entered agreements with one entity, while more than 150 colleges have collaborated with another. These entities, based in Mumbai and Nagpur, allegedly facilitated illegal immigration by luring individuals with promises of student visas.
The operation involved charging victims between ₹55 to ₹60 lakh per person (AUD 99,000 to AUD 108,000) for entry into Canada on student visas, with the intention of crossing the border into the US.
Once in Canada, the individuals would not attend the colleges they were admitted to, instead crossing into the US illegally. The Canadian colleges would refund the fees paid to them, which were then transferred back to the victims’ accounts.
During the ongoing investigation, the ED conducted search operations at eight locations across Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara, leading to the freezing of bank accounts with ₹19 lakh (AUD 34,200) and the seizure of incriminating documents, digital devices, and vehicles. The ED has identified over 1,700 agents in Gujarat and another 3,500 agents across India involved in the trafficking operation, with approximately 800 active participants.
The trafficking ring, according to the ED, is responsible for referring around 25,000 students annually to foreign colleges through the two entities. The investigation also revealed that these entities were securing admissions for students in Canadian universities on a commission basis, allowing them to apply for student visas while secretly planning their illegal entry into the United States.
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