The Gujarat Crime Investigation Department (CID) revealed that 66 Indian passengers aboard a grounded flight suspected of human trafficking paid between 60 and 80 lakh rupees to agents in exchange for securing illegal entry into the United States. Authorities are now investigating the identities of fifteen illegal agents who emerged during the probe. 

On December 21, a specially chartered Legend Airlines aircraft carrying 303 passengers from Fujairah (UAE) to Nicaragua was grounded in Vatry airport in France after local authorities received a tip suggesting that the passengers were being trafficked illegally.

More than 270 passengers were deported back to India, while 25 chose to seek asylum in France. The Gujarat CID’s questioning of the 66 passengers who returned to Gujarat revealed that the plan was to fly from Ahmedabad to Nicaragua via Dubai. Once in Nicaragua, the passengers were to be led into the U.S. through the Mexico border illegally. 

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