The Gujarat police probe into the larger illegal immigration ring has faced a hurdle at the Regional Passport Office (RPO). In a raid, the police confiscated 78 passports from agents engaging in illicit immigration, which were then turned over to the RPO. The detectives sought to determine if the confiscated passports were genuine, fakes, or issued on the basis of fraudulent paperwork.
According to a Gujarat police official, it has been about a month since the passports were given to the RPO, but nothing has changed despite the department giving them three reminders.
“This is delaying the probe into the illegal immigration racket,” the officer explained.
The state administration initiated an investigation on illegal immigration from the state after a family of four from Dingucha village in Kalol taluka of Mehsana district died in Canada in February while attempting to illegally enter the US.
On February 19, Gujarat police detained four agents who were part of an illegal immigrant ring that transferred hopefuls to the US over the Mexican border. Raids on the homes of two accused led to the confiscation of 78 passports, 13 election cards, 23 pan cards, stamps from several institutions, fake bank accounts, and other papers. The officers had forwarded the confiscated passports to the RPO for verification.
‘Operation Mekla’ is the term given to the investigation into illegal immigration. Passport authorities stated that they had already supplied passport information for 150 illegal immigrants from 30 families who have already crossed into the United States via Canada or Mexico. Regarding the 78 passports, RPO Wren Mishra stated that they would need to verify whether or not the details for the 78 passports have been submitted.
DGP Ashish Bhatia would meet with several police agencies on Saturday to examine the case’s development, according to senior police sources. Meanwhile, a lookout notice has been issued in the case against two absconding defendants, Charanjit Singh and Bobby Patel.
Gujarat police received a tip regarding Raju Prajapati of Mehsana and Shilpa Patel of Kadi obtaining fake passports in order to fly to the United States. Following a raid, authorities detained four people: Raju Prajapati, Haresh Patel, Hardik Patel, and Rajat Chavda. Haresh Patel and Hardik Patel were the agents handling the illegal immigration scam in the state on behalf of agents in Delhi. Each illegal immigrant was charged Rs60-65 lakh by the agents.
According to police, the accused unlawfully transported 150 persons from 30 households, predominantly from Mehsana, to the United States. The immigrants were supposed to pay the money after they arrived in the United States. The investigation also showed that Raju Prajapati and Shilpa Patel, who were to be transferred to the United States, were to masquerade as a couple, with two youngsters aged 9 and 12 accompanying them as their children. The accused had already sent the parents of these children to the United States.
Nigeria was the new entry point to the United States. According to police, the accused previously transferred people to Mexico via Europe. When European borders were tightened, Nigeria became the preferred transit route. Illegal immigrants were forced to linger in transit nations for several months before being deported to Mexico.
