Amid the ongoing deportation of illegal Indian immigrants from the US, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a travel agent for allegedly facilitating illegal migration through the infamous “donkey route”, an official statement said on Sunday.
The accused, Gagandeep Singh alias Goldie, was arrested from New Delhi’s Tilak Nagar in connection with a case registered based on a complaint filed by a resident of Punjab’s Tarn Taran. The complainant, a human-trafficking victim, had been sent to the US via the treacherous route in December 2024.
The “donkey route” is an illegal migration method used to reach countries like the US, Canada, and various European nations, often involving travel through multiple countries and dangerous terrain.
According to the NIA, the complainant had paid Gagandeep Singh Rs 45 lakh for illegal passage into the US. However, he was deported along with 111 others on a US Air Force C-17 flight that landed in Amritsar on February 15. Following his return, he filed a complaint against the travel agent.
The case was initially registered by the Punjab Police but was later taken over by the NIA on March 13. The agency’s investigation revealed that Goldie did not possess a valid licence or legal permit to operate a travel agency. He had facilitated illegal migration using the donkey route, sending the victim to the US via Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.
Further findings indicate that associates of the travel agent, who assisted the victim in crossing into the US, not only robbed him of his money but also physically assaulted him during the journey.
The investigation into the case is ongoing.
