The Indian Crime Investigation Department (CID) authorities discovered that passengers, whose flight was detained in France and aimed to reach Nicaragua to then enter the United States irregularly, paid between $72,000 and $96,000 to local immigration agents to smuggle them into U.S. soil.
According to Indian local media, out of the 303 individuals aboard the flight destined for Nicaragua, which was returned from France due to suspected human trafficking, 66 were from Gujarat (a state in southwest India). Out of these, 55 have already been interviewed as part of the investigation.
«We have already interrogated 55 of them and recorded their statements. Most of them completed education up to grades 8 to 12. Each of them admitted to having agreed to pay between 60 and 80 lakh rupees (between $72,000 and $96,000) to local immigration agents to help them illegally cross into the United States after arriving in Nicaragua via Dubai,» said Police Superintendent Sanjay Kharat to the PTI news agency.
The authorities in charge have also requested assistance from India’s Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to gather further information about the agents who acquired the visa from Dubai for these 55 passengers, the agents’ banking details who paid the visa fee from their account, how the agents managed to obtain the Nicaraguan visa in Dubai, and how they booked the flight.
The flight from Dubai to Nicaragua carried 303 passengers who were detained by authorities at the Vatry Airport in France on December 21 on suspicion of human trafficking. After questioning the passengers, the flight was allowed to take off and landed in Mumbai on December 26. However, out of the 303 passengers, only 276 returned to India as 27 requested asylum in France.
They were provided with tickets and given cash
Indian authorities also revealed that they obtained the names and phone numbers of 15 individuals who promised to assist the interviewed individuals in reaching the United States, using Nicaragua as a bridge. Investigations revealed that the involved agents assured the Indians that payment would be made only after reaching the U.S.
«The agents had informed the passengers that their associates would take them to the U.S. border from Nicaragua and assist them in crossing. It was also revealed that the agents had booked plane tickets for these passengers and provided each passenger with between $1,000 and $3,000 to handle any emergency situation,» stated the Police Superintendent.
The 66 passengers from southwest India arrived in Dubai from Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Delhi between December 10 and 20. This was the plan devised by the agents who acted as coyotes.
Subsequently, following the agents’ instructions, they boarded the plane bound for Nicaragua from Dubai, according to a statement from the Indian investigation agency.
The aircraft was grounded at Vatry airport, 150 kilometers from Paris, during a stopover, after authorities received an anonymous tip alleging human trafficking.
Nicaragua, the bridge to reach the United States irregularly
Nicaragua has become a stepping stone for migrants seeking to reach the United States. Initially, it was for citizens from Haiti, Cuba, and Venezuela. Later, migrants from other continents joined: Africans, Europeans, and Indians.
Manuel Orozco, an analyst at the Inter-American Dialogue based in Washington, told AFP that the government of Daniel Ortega has facilitated ‘the business of a network of air services’ for migrants ‘to reach the border with Mexico and the United States faster,’ using Nicaragua as a shortcut or ‘bridge.’
