The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is probing some colleges and universities in Canada for allegedly being involved in the trafficking of Indian students. The Indian probe agency said that Indian students are being trafficked to the US via the Canadian border.
The agency said that it is investigating several institutes out of 262 registered Canadian colleges. The colleges could be linked to illegal human trafficking to America, it said.
The ED, in a statement, said that Indian students are entering Canada in disguise of taking admissions in colleges and universities there. As they reach there on student visas, they crossover to the US instead of joining colleges. Later, the fees submitted in the colleges in Canada are remitted to individuals’ account.
The ED case stems from an FIR registered by DCB, Crime Branch, Ahmedabad City, Gujarat against Bhavesh Ashok bhai Patel and others after a family of 04 Indian nationals of Dingucha village, Gujarat was found dead on the Canada-US Border on January 19, 2022.
All the accused, in conspiracy with each other, lured the innocent Indian Nationals by charging them huge amounts of Rs. 55 to 60 Lakh per person, for causing them to illegally enter the USA through Canada, the agency said.
“The ED has conducted searches at 8 locations in Mumbai, Nagpur, Gandhinagar and Vadodara as part of the ongoing probe in the case of Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel and others (Dingucha case) for hatching a well-planned conspiracy, to send the victims/persons to USA through Canada via illegal channel thereby committing the offence of human trafficking,” the statement said.
“During the course of search operations Bank accounts to the tune of Rs 19 Lakh (approx.) were frozen along and various other incriminating documents & digital devices have been seized. Further, 02 vehicles were also seized,” it added.
“It is revealed during searches conducted that around 25,000 students are being referred by one entity and more than 10,000 students by another to various colleges based outside India every year. Further, it is gathered that there are around 1700 agents/partners of based in Gujarat and around 3500 agents/partners of other entity all over India and out of which around 800 are active. It is further revealed that around 112 colleges based in Canada have entered into agreement with one entity and more than 150 with another entity,” the agency claimed.
Source : https://www.timesnownews.com/india/why-indias-ed-is-probing-canadian-colleges-article-116647979