ED raids Punjab, Haryana in crackdown on 'Dunki route' immigration racket

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday conducted raids across Punjab and Haryana as part of an ongoing investigation into the high-profile ‘Dunki route’ case, which came under intense national spotlight following the mass deportation of Indian nationals from the United States earlier this year.

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According to official sources, the ED’s Jalandhar zonal office is currently carrying out search operations at 11 locations, including Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala, Moga, Ambala, Kurukshetra, and Karnal.

These raids are part of the agency’s probe into the illegal immigration racket that surfaced after hundreds of Indians were deported by US authorities in February 2024—many of whom arrived in India in handcuffs, sparking widespread public outrage.

The ED’s investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is based on 17 FIRs registered by police in Punjab and Haryana against various travel agents and middlemen.

“These individuals allegedly defrauded scores of aspiring migrants by promising legitimate overseas placements, charging exorbitant sums of Rs 45–50 lakh per person,” the official said.

However, investigations revealed that rather than facilitating legal immigration, these agents funneled unsuspecting individuals through the treacherous ‘Dunki route’—a clandestine and perilous network involving illegal border crossings through multiple countries, often under the control of international human smuggling mafias and so-called “Donkers.”

“Not only were these migrants deceived, but many were also extorted during their journey,” the officer said.

ED officials have found that the traffickers and their overseas accomplices created high-pressure situations to extract additional payments from migrants’ families, exploiting their desperation and fear.

The Tribune has learned that ED has recorded statements from several deportees, shedding light on the operational structure of the network and identifying new suspects. “Today’s searches targeted individuals and entities whose names emerged during this process,” the officer said.