With the arrest of a computer graduate, Delhi Police on Monday claimed to have unearthed a "new route" of human trafficking whereby people were sent illegally to Mexico, Canada and the US through Guatemala.
Adil Vali Mohammed (38) was taken into custody at the Delhi airport after a large number of passports were seized from him, O P Mishra, Deputy Commissioner of Police (IGI Airport), said.
"While returning from Guatemala, Adil Vali Mohammed was found in possession of 31 passports apart from his own at the Delhi airport. The recovery of such a large number of passports belonging to different passengers was alarming," he said.
During questioning, the DCP said, Mohammed revealed a very organised network of carrier agents and middlemen involved in human trafficking who would charge Rs 20-30 lakh from the victims.
"A new route of human trafficking in which Indian citizens were sent to Mexico, Canada and USA illegally without any visa through a safer route of Guatemala has been unearthed with his arrest," he said, adding Guatemala has
a visa on arrival facility which suited them.
It came to light that the seized passports belonged to 31 passengers who had already departed with the help of different carrier agents to Guatemala. Out of these, 29 were from Gujarat and two from Punjab.
Agents Jayesh Desai and Manish Patel of Ahmadabad made the arrangements for their travel along with Kamal and Billa of Delhi and Tajudin and Zakir of Mumbai.
"Everybody has been assigned different roles and were paid handsome amount by the kingpin, Ronnie, of the racket," Mishra said.
These 31 passengers were taken to Guatemala on different dates. These passengers were received by one Ronnie at Guatemala. Further Ronnie used to arrange their illegal entry into the US through jungle or borders of Mexico or
Canada.
"Thus Guatemala was used as a safe transit route by the traffickers for onward journey to US. The journey of a passenger was arranged for Rs 20-30 lakh," Mishra said.
Mohammed, a computer graduate, has also worked as a salesman in Dubai for some time. On his return to Mumbai, he started a computer hardware repair shop in Mumbai where he came in contact with others involved in the racket.