NIA arrests key accused involved in human trafficking to US via 'dunki' route

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a key accused allegedly involved in sending a man illegally to the US via the infamous dunki route.

The term dunki, believed to have originated from the word donkey, refers to an illegal pathway that immigrants take to enter countries like the United States without proper documentation. Their risky and arduous journey is usually facilitated by a human-trafficking syndicate.

Accused Gagandeep Singh alias Goldie, a resident of west Delhi's Tilak Nagar, has been arrested by the NIA, an official statement said on Sunday, 30 March.

Goldie was allegedly paid around Rs 45 lakh by a victim from Punjab's Tarn Taran district for illegal immigration, it said. The victim was sent to the US via the dunki route in December 2024, the statement issued by the NIA said.

He was deported to India by US authorities on 15 February and had thereafter filed a complaint against the accused 'agent'. The case was originally registered by the Punjab Police and later taken over by the NIA on 13 March.

NIA investigations revealed that Goldie, who did not possess a licence or legal permit or registration for sending people abroad, had used the dunki route and sent the victim to the US via Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico.

"Donkers/associates of Goldie had even beaten up and exploited the victim, besides snatching the dollars he was carrying, during the arduous journey, NIA investigations further revealed," the statement said.

Replying to a query in the Lok Sabha, Union minister of state for external affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh had on 28 March said, "From January 2025 till date, a total of 636 Indian nationals have been deported to India from the US."