Major action has been taken by the investigating agency Enforcement Directorate (ED) in the Donkey Route case. Jalandhar-based ED raided a total of 13 locations in Punjab, Haryana and the capital Delhi. Many important revelations and evidence have also been found in this action. In the raid, the entire network of Donkey Route was unearthed, along with which property worth Rs 19 crores including 6 kg gold biscuits and 313 kg silver was found.
Regarding the raid, officials associated with the agency said that the Enforcement Directorate conducted a search operation on 13 business and residential places in Punjab, Haryana and Delhi on Thursday. This operation was carried out in connection with the investigation of money laundering case related to illegal immigration through the so-called “Donkey Route”.
4 crore cash, 313 kg silver seized
In the raid, the agency has found many important documents and evidence, due to which the entire network of Donkey Route is being revealed. ED recovered about Rs 4.62 crore in cash, 313 kg of silver and 6 kg of gold biscuits from the premises of a travel agent in Delhi. Their total price in the market was estimated to be around Rs 19.13 crore. Besides, chats with other people associated with the donkey business and other incriminating evidence have also been found.
Similarly, many records and documents related to this illegal business were recovered from the hideout of a big player of Donkey Route in Haryana. The investigation also revealed that in exchange for sending people to America via Mexico, he kept the documents of their property with him as a guarantee of money from them. Apart from this, many objectionable documents and mobile phones have also been seized from the premises of other accused.
Jalandhar zonal office conducted search
The search was conducted by ED’s Jalandhar zonal office on Thursday as part of an ongoing investigation. This investigation was done about a dinky route network which allegedly used to send Indians abroad illegally, especially to America. The term ‘dinky’ or ‘dunki’ is commonly used to refer to the long, arduous and illegal journey undertaken by migrants to cross into other countries.
This investigation was initiated after several FIRs were registered after about 330 Indian citizens were forcibly deported from the US to India in a military cargo plane in February this year. According to the agency, investigation revealed that the repatriated people were sent to America through the ‘Dinky’ route with the help of a complex and multi-stage network.
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The chain allegedly included travel agents, middlemen, so-called dunkers, foreign handlers, hawala operators and people who helped with accommodation and logistics at different stages of the journey.
ED found many important evidences in the investigation
Officials said that evidence collected during the earlier search operation and investigation had revealed the involvement of Phase II and III operatives in the illegal immigration racket. These people and organizations were targeted in this latest raid. He said it was investigating their alleged role in facilitating illegal migration and generating and transferring the proceeds of crime related to the operation.
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The agency has also recently provisionally attached assets worth Rs 5.41 crore of the accused persons, which it says was acquired from money earned by illegally repatriating people abroad through the ‘dinky’ route.
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