NIA busts human trafficking network, arrests key suspect in Delhi

The North News

New Delhi, March 31

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a man accused of trafficking an Indian national to the United States through the perilous ‘donkey route.’ Gagandeep Singh, also known as Goldie, was detained in Delhi in connection with the case, which originated in Punjab’s Tarn Taran district. The victim, who was deported from the US in February, had reportedly paid Rs 45 lakh for the illegal passage, the NIA  said.

Originally registered by Punjab Police, the case was taken over by the NIA on 13 March. Investigators found that Singh, operating without a valid permit, facilitated the victim’s journey through Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. Along the way, associates of the trafficker allegedly assaulted the victim and robbed him of his money.

The arrest is part of an ongoing crackdown on human smuggling networks that exploit desperate migrants seeking entry into the US.