The ED investigation revealed a nexus between Canadian colleges and Indian agents facilitating money laundering and human trafficking using student visas as a front.
Allegations against Canada highlight state involvement in human trafficking, raising questions about its governance and visa oversight.
Tensions rise as the U.S. warns Canada to curb illegal immigration, threatening aid cuts, complicating Prime Minister Trudeau’s domestic and international challenges.
The Enforcement Directorate of India has launched an investigation into the involvement of certain Canadian colleges with some Indian entities engaged in money laundering coupled with human trafficking across the Canada-United States border. This investigation originates from an FIR filed by the Ahmedabad Police against Bhavesh Ashokbhai Patel, who is allegedly involved in money laundering and facilitating the illegal immigration of Indians into the United States from Canada.
This case and FIR trace back to an incident in 2022, where a family of four from a village in Gujarat succumbed to the cold weather while crossing the U.S.-Canada border. The investigation reveals a strategic and unholy nexus between certain Indian entities and some Canadian colleges. According to the findings, Indian nationals initially travel to Canada under the pretext of pursuing academic degrees. They secure student visas to enter Canada but subsequently attempt to illegally cross into the United States via the Canadian border.
Interestingly, the money paid to these Canadian colleges is often returned to the individuals, raising further suspicion. This suggests that these Indian nationals are not genuinely seeking academic opportunities but are instead using student visas as a facade to facilitate their illegal entry into the United States.The ED investigation suggests that individuals of Indian nationality have been charged between ₹55 lakh to ₹60 lakh for their illegal entry into the United States via Canada. The ED has also identified 1,700 agents operating within Gujarat and 3,500 agents operating across the country, of which 800 are currently active. Additionally, the ED has frozen ₹19 lakh in bank accounts during the course of their search operations.
The involvement of Canadian colleges in this comes at a critical time when Canada itself has been accusing India of interfering in its domestic matters. The Canadian government has alleged that the Indian government is targeting Canadian nationals and facilitating money laundering through certain gangsters allegedly operated by the Indian government. These allegations by Canada against India have further escalated tensions between the two governments.
Interestingly, this investigation by the ED department of India has exposed the hypocrisy of the Canadian government and highlighted its double standards. It is clear that the student visas issued by Canada are not handled by private agencies but rather by a government body called Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). All visas processed and approved by them happen under the oversight and supervision of the Canadian government.
This strongly suggests that the ongoing human trafficking is not an independent activity but is happening under the supervision of the Canadian government. This raises the possibility that the government is not only aware of these activities but is also indirectly involved in the human trafficking of Indian nationals.
Prime Minister Trudeau likes to portray Canada as a nation governed by the rule of law and a land where free speech is upheld. However, the involvement of state institutions in human trafficking raises serious questions about the credibility of such claims. Rule of law and human trafficking are fundamentally incompatible, and such actions are not characteristic of a nation that prides itself on upholding these values. The Canadian government must first address the shortcomings within its own institutions and ensure proper oversight of its own operations before casting blame to other nations.
This development is significant because Canada has become a major destination for Indian students, with many preferring to study there. However, issues such as safety concerns, the rising cost of living, lack of opportunities, and the broader economic challenges Canada is facing add to its problems. These allegations of human trafficking further exacerbate Canada’s challenges and could lead to increased uncertainties for international students considering Canada as a destination.
It will also be interesting to observe how this situation evolves, especially given that Donald Trump, the President-elect of the USA, has warned Prime Minister Trudeau that if Canada fails to stop the illegal entry of immigrants into the USA, the billions of dollars in bilateral aid provided by the United States to Canada could be cut. In recent times, President-elect Trump has already been highly critical of Prime Minister Trudeau, which could further strain relations between Canada and the USA. Overall, these allegations and the resulting situation pose serious challenges for Prime Minister Trudeau, both domestically and internationally.
Reference:
https://www.cnbctv18.com/india/ed-probe-reveals-260-canadian-colleges-involved-in-trafficking-of-indians-into-us-19529942.htm/amp
Aayush Pal is a freelance writer on contemporary geopolitical developments. The views expressed in his work are entirely his own.
Satish Chogule 
Shobhil Shrivastava