The Gujarat Police’s Crime Investigation Department (CID) is still searching for the mastermind behind a major human trafficking case that was uncovered in December 2023, following the grounding of a chartered flight bound for Nicaragua. The flight, which was carrying 303 Indians, including several unaccompanied minors, made a technical stop at France’s Vatry Airport on December 21, 2023, where French authorities halted the flight after receiving a tip-off regarding suspected human trafficking.
The mastermind, Guru Amrut Pal Singh, also known as “Pali,” is believed to have orchestrated the illegal operation and was allegedly planning to transport the passengers to the United States. Pali, originally from Jalandhar, Punjab, is suspected to be hiding in the Middle East. The police have issued a lookout notice for him and are actively investigating his network.
So far, the Gujarat Police have arrested 12 agents, including five from Gujarat, involved in the trafficking ring. The arrested individuals are reportedly linked to Pali’s operation and were charged with arranging for the passengers to travel under false pretenses. The investigation also identified seven other suspects who remain on the run, including individuals based in Delhi and the UAE.
The arrested agents include Kiran Patel, Raju, Chandresh Patel, Sam Paji, Bhargav Darji, Sandeep Patel, Jayesh Patel, Piyush Barot, and Arpit alias Michel Zala. A total of 14 immigration agents were named in the FIR, but further investigations revealed additional suspects. Some of the other suspects include Joginder alias Jogi Paaji, a history-sheeter from Delhi, and Salim Dubai, residing in the UAE.
According to the police, the human trafficking operation involved a financial transaction of ₹300-325 crore, with passengers charged between ₹70-80 lakh to over ₹1 crore, based on the promises made to them by the agents. These agents convinced the passengers that they would receive job guarantees in the United States and assistance with crossing the US border illegally.
Passengers were told to pay only after reaching the US, with promises of assistance to cross the border from Nicaragua to Mexico, from where they were expected to illegally enter the United States. Lawyers were even hired to help them with the asylum process once they arrived in the US. However, the plans were disrupted when French authorities intervened, halting the flight before it could reach its destination.
The police have taken statements from 66 passengers from Gujarat, who have been treated as witnesses in the investigation. While the flight was thwarted before reaching its final destination, the authorities continue to work on tracking down Pali and the other suspects involved in the human trafficking network.
The case has attracted widespread attention due to the scale of the operation, which involved multiple agents across India and abroad, and the large number of individuals trying to illegally enter the United States.
The Gujarat CID is continuing its investigation with the support of international agencies as they work towards locating and apprehending the remaining suspects in the case.
Sources By Agencies
