New Delhi: An alleged kingpin of a human
trafficking racket, who used to send people to the United
States and Canada, was arrested, police said today.
Police apprehended Ketan Patel, allegedly involved in high
profile human trafficking from Gujarat, Maharashtra and Delhi,
from the airport here recently, Deputy Commissioner of Police
(IGI Airport) O P Mishra said.
Patel allegedly used to facilitate people to go to USA and
Canada through Nepal using forged travel documents. At least
four cases have already been registered against him in Delhi,
Mumbai and Goa.
In all these cases, passengers disclosed that they
travelled on fake Indian passports allegedly arranged by
Patel.
"Patel, a commerce graduate, was into export of spices and
met a heavy loss in the business. Then he started importing
readymade garments from Bangkok. During this period, he came
in contact with a person, Salim, who lured him into acting as
a carrier agent for transportation of the passenger for
Bangkok," Mishra said.
Patel was allegedly given Rs 1.25 lakh for each passenger.
He allegedly carried 8-10 passengers to Bangkok, of whom 3-4
passengers were deported. Cases against him were registered in
Sahar Mumbai police station.
"He got another passport issued in the name of Nitin Kanti
Lal Patel and started using this passport for journey but was
detained as a Look Out Circular was opened against him against
that passport in these cases. He was later arrested in all
four cases and sent to Arthur Road Jail," Mishra said.
He came in contact with a Nepali agent, Sajan, who was in
the business of trafficking of women to Gulf countries.
Both of them planned to send passengers abroad from Nepal
on forged passports. After getting out of jail, both of them
started working together and Patel used to take passengers
from India to Nepal on their original identity and then
arranged the photo-substituted Indian passport for onward
journey.
During the journey two passengers were deported from
Narita (Japan), besides one from Shanghai (China) and one from
the USA. Cases in this connection were registered at the IGI
Airport police station here.
To hide his identity and get away from the clutches of
police, Patel never came in direct contact with the passenger.
He is having a local sub-agent network in Gujarat.
The sub-agents used to attract gullible candidates for
going to the US or Canada and settling there.
Local agents acted on behalf of Patel and used to collect
money from the wards and relatives of the passenger after
reaching USA and Canada. Some local agents have been
identified and further investigation is on.
-PTI
