Human Trafficking Networks and the 'Donkey Route'

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) have launched aggressive probes into illegal human trafficking networks operating through the infamous "Donkey Route". This route is primarily used by Indian migrants attempting to reach the United States via Latin America and other countries. The ongoing investigations have uncovered a complex and dangerous network of traffickers, agents, fake visa consultancies, and international operatives with severe implications for national security, human rights, and India’s foreign relations.

Key Developments in the Crackdown

1. ED and NIA Actions

   • The ED is focusing on money laundering linked to illegal immigration rackets involving high-stakes international trafficking.

   • The NIA has arrested several key operatives, including traffickers associated with Gagandeep Singh, a major figure who was arrested earlier. Singh allegedly trafficked over 100 Indians to the U.S. through the Donkey Route, charging as much as ₹45 lakh per person.

What is the Donkey Route?

• The term Donkey Route refers to an illegal, dangerous migration pathway that involves crossing multiple countries, often under the control of criminal networks.

• The route gained public attention after the release of the 2023 Shahrukh Khan film "Dunki", which portrayed the journey in a fictionalized manner.

• Typical Journey Path:

  • India → UAE → Latin American countries (Ecuador, Guyana, Bolivia) where Indian citizens can obtain visa-on-arrival or tourist visas.

  • Ecuador → Colombia → Panama (crossing the perilous Darién Gap), then onward through Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Mexico, and finally entering the U.S..

• Hazards:

  • Migrants face extreme risks, including navigating through dense forests (Darién Gap), exposure to assault, extortion, animal attacks, and dangerous border tunnels under the U.S.-Mexico border.

  • Criminal cartels in the Mexico-U.S. border area have shifted focus from drug trafficking to human trafficking, charging up to $6,000 per person for a passage.

Economic Dimensions of Human Trafficking

• Cost to Migrants:

  • Agents charge between ₹30 lakh to ₹60 lakh depending on the specific route. In some instances, passengers have paid amounts ranging from ₹40 lakh to ₹1.25 crore for flights heading toward Nicaragua via Europe.

• Agent Networks:

  • Local-level agents in India are part of a much larger international trafficking syndicate. These agents are responsible for facilitating fraudulent practices such as issuing fake visas, forging documents, and organizing illegal border crossings.

Illegal Immigration and India's Role

• Rising Trends in Migration:

  • In 2023, nearly 96,917 Indians were caught or expelled at the U.S. border, a significant increase from 30,662 in 2021.

  • According to Pew Research (2022), there are over 700,000 undocumented Indians in the U.S., the third largest group after Mexicans and Hondurans.

• Deportation Data:

  • Since 2009, a total of 15,756 Indians have been deported from the U.S. The highest number of deportations came in 2019 (2,042), with 104 deported so far in 2025.

Varieties of Illegal Immigration Routes

1. Student Visa Route (Canada to U.S.):

   • A popular route involves agents arranging fraudulent admissions into Canadian colleges. These students then attempt to cross into the U.S. illegally.

   • The cost of this route ranges from ₹50 lakh to ₹60 lakh per person.

   • A noteworthy case involved three members of a Gujarati family who froze to death at the U.S.-Canada border, sparking an ED probe into fraudulent agents and money laundering activities.

Implications for India

• National Security:

  • The involvement of transnational criminal networks in human trafficking poses significant risks to national security. These criminal syndicates could also facilitate the infiltration of terrorist elements or engage in financial crimes.

• Diplomatic Concerns:

  • India’s growing reputation as a source of undocumented migrants could strain diplomatic relations, especially with the United States and Canada, where the impact of illegal immigration is particularly high.

• Human Rights Violations:

  • Migrants on these dangerous routes often face death, sexual assault, extortion, and a wide array of human rights violations. This exploitation highlights the need for greater protection of human dignity and the rights of migrants.

Policy Responses Needed

1. Strengthening Emigration Laws:

   • India must adopt more stringent emigration regulations to curb the illegal activities of agents and traffickers. This can include better oversight of private travel consultancies and visa agencies.

2. Regulation of Travel and Visa Consultancies:

   • Stringent regulations should be enforced on private travel and visa agencies that facilitate fraudulent migration practices.

3. Bilateral Cooperation on Anti-Trafficking Efforts:

   • India needs to enhance diplomatic cooperation with countries like the U.S. and Canada to tackle human trafficking and strengthen laws against illegal immigration.

4. Community Awareness:

   • There needs to be greater public awareness in India regarding the dangers of using illegal routes and the potential legal consequences of unauthorized immigration.