ED raids 11 Punjab, Haryana sites in ‘dunki route’ case linked to US deportations

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday raided 11 sites across Punjab and Haryana as part of an investigation into the high-profile "dunki" route case that came under spotlight following the mass deportation of Indian nationals from the US earlier this year.

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Several of the deportees had landed in India in shackles and handcuffs, sparking widespread outrage. Sources said among the places raided were Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala, Moga, Ambala, Kurukshetra and Karnal.

The search operation included the residence of farmer leader Sukhwinder Singh Gill 'Totewala' in Moga district. Totewala, who runs an immigration firm, was named in one of the FIRs lodged at the Dharamkot police station in which a man had accused him of sending him to the US through a “dunki” route.

The ED’s investigation under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) is based on 17 FIRs registered by the police in Punjab and Haryana against travel agents and middlemen. “These individuals allegedly defrauded immigrants by promising legitimate overseas placements, charging Rs 45–50 lakh per person," an official said.

Investigations revealed that rather than facilitating legal immigration, the agents funnelled unsuspecting individuals through the treacherous 'donkey route', a 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 official said.

ED officials found that the traffickers and their overseas accomplices created high-pressure situations to extract additional payments from the families of migrants, exploiting their desperation and fear. The ED is learnt to have 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 the probe," the official said.