DELHI-BASED HUMAN TRAFFICKERS ARRESTED

By P. Vijian

NEW DELHI, Jun 29 (Bernama) -- Indian police have uncovered a Delhi-based
human trafficking ring which had been faking Malaysia and Singapore visas to
send people to the United States (US) via Latin American countries.

The syndicate, masterminded by three travel agent staff, had forged
passports and obtained fake Malaysian and Singapore visas for their clients,
mostly Indian and Nepalese nationals, who wished to enter the US illegally.

The crime branch of Delhi police arrested the trio after a raid in the
Indian capital last week following a tip-off that travel agencies in Delhi and
Punjab were involved in the clandestine operation.

"The accused persons would get their clients visas of southeast Asian
countries like Malaysia and Singapore, after tempering with their passports and
forging documents to enhance their financial and personal profiles," said Neeraj
Thakur, additional commissioner (crime) of Delhi Police, reported the Times of
India.

According to evidence unearthed by the Delhi police team, the gang was
believed to have sent at least 100 people to the US this year alone, using the
same modus operandi.


Clients were flown to far away countries such as Ecuador, Guatemala and
Mexico where visa on arrival facility were readily available and later local
gangs would help them enter the US, said the paper.

"To facilitate illegal entry of a person into the US, the accused would send
them to Latin America where they would procure visas on arrival.

"Thereafter, with the help of local aides, the clients would be sneaked over
the US-Mexico border," Thakur was quoted as saying.

Paraphernalia, including 152 passports, used by the suspects were seized
from their office in Delhi.

The illegal entry into US would cost a client nearly RM180,000.

-- BERNAMA