The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has exposed a major human trafficking operation involving Canadian colleges and Indian entities, with a firm based in Nagpur emerging as a key link. The probe revolves around a money laundering case tied to smuggling Indian nationals into the United States via Canada. Recent ED searches were conducted in Nagpur, Mumbai, Gandhinagar, and Vadodara on December 10 and 19.
The investigation stems from the tragic deaths of a Gujarat family near the Canada-US border in January 2022. ED’s findings reveal that several Indian entities, including one from Nagpur, arranged student admissions to Canadian colleges as part of the trafficking scheme. However, instead of attending classes, the individuals crossed the US border illegally.
Traffickers charged ₹55–₹60 lakh per person, preying on vulnerable Indians with false promises of a better life in the US. ED uncovered that college fees were refunded to participants’ accounts as part of the illegal operation.
Two primary entities—one in Nagpur and another in Mumbai—are suspected of facilitating student recruitment on a commission basis. Combined, they referred over 35,000 students annually to foreign institutions, including more than 112 Canadian colleges.
The ED believes some Canadian colleges near the US border played a complicit role in enabling illegal crossings. Thousands of agents across India, with 800 currently active, are also under scrutiny.
This operation underscores the alarming nexus between foreign educational institutions and Indian intermediaries, positioning Nagpur as a pivotal point in the international human trafficking network. Investigations under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) are ongoing, with further revelations anticipated.