5 months ago
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The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized ₹4.68 crore successful cash, golden bars worthy ₹8.07 crore, and metallic bars valued astatine astir ₹6.42 crore during searches astatine 13 locations crossed Punjab, Haryana, and Delhi successful transportation with a wealth laundering probe successful the “Donkey Route” lawsuit linked to amerciable migration into the United States.
According to the agency, too cash, golden bars and metallic bars weighing 5.9 kg and 313 kg were impounded, on with golden coins worthy ₹2.7 lakh and respective integer devices and documents. Over 50 archetypal passports of 3rd parties were besides impounded from assorted premises.
On December 15, the ED provisionally attached movable and immovable properties worthy ₹5.41 crore, including cultivation land, residential and commercialized premises, and slope accounts.
The money-laundering probe stems from aggregate First Information Reports registered by the constabulary successful Punjab and Haryana concerning the deportation of 330 Indian nationals to India successful February 2025 by the U.S. government, arsenic they had entered the state illegally.
The ED recovered that assorted agents and their associates deceived radical by promising ineligible introduction into the U.S. and charged hefty sums. The syndicate progressive a ample web of question agents, middlemen, “donkers” (human trafficking agents), overseas associates, hawala operators, and providers of lodging and different logistical arrangements.
The accused reportedly sent radical via unsafe routes done assorted South American countries, yet making them participate the U.S. illegally done the Mexico border. Midway, the victims were subjected to torture, forced to wage further sums, and coerced into committing amerciable acts.
