CHANDIGARH, July 9 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday launched a sweeping crackdown across Punjab and Haryana, raiding offices and homes of suspected travel agents involved in a sprawling human smuggling racket dubbed the “donkey route.” The case stems from a series of FIRs related to illegal immigration attempts and money laundering tied to the deportation of over 130 Indians by US authorities earlier this year.
“Search operations are being carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) in connection with 19 FIRs registered against travel agents and middlemen,” said a senior ED official. The searches spanned 11 cities, including Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala, Moga, Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Karnal.
Among those raided was the residence of Bhartiya Kisan Union (Totewala) leader Sukh Gill in Jalandhar. “The raids are underway, and more details will follow once the operation concludes,” the official added.
The probe gained urgency after 131 young men from Punjab were deported by the Donald Trump administration in February aboard US military aircraft. The deportees were caught attempting to illegally cross the US-Mexico border between January 23 and 28 and were detained by American border patrol.
Statements recorded by the ED from several of the deportees have revealed a complex network of agents who allegedly charged between ₹45–55 lakh per person to arrange illegal entry into the United States. “Most of them had never met these agents in person. Payments were made through intermediaries or local contacts,” the official said.
The ED is now tracing the financial trails using bank account details and documentation provided by the deportees. “We have launched a thorough investigation into how these funds were laundered. The money trail is being tracked to identify both individuals and shell entities involved,” the ED spokesperson said.
Earlier, on February 25, the ED had raided properties in Ludhiana and Chandigarh linked to several immigration firms including M/s Red Leaf Immigration Private Limited, M/s Overseas Partner Education Consultants, and M/s Infowiz Software Solution. Those raids resulted in the seizure of ₹19 lakh in cash, digital devices, and forged documents.
The agency’s investigation has revealed that these entities manipulated visa applications by depositing funds into applicants’ accounts to feign financial eligibility and forging academic and work-related documents. “These criminal operations not only duped people of large sums but also used the proceeds to invest in real estate and other assets,” the official said.
The case was initially flagged by the Office of Overseas Criminal Investigations at the US Embassy in New Delhi, prompting both Delhi and Punjab Police to register criminal complaints. As the probe widens, more deportees from Punjab and Haryana may be summoned to assist in identifying the full extent of the trafficking and money laundering network.
