CID: 66 of 303 on plane to Nicaragua from Gujarat, paid Rs 60-80 lakh to enter US

The over 60 people who were sent back to India from France aboard a flight bound for Nicaragua on human trafficking suspicions had paid between Rs 60 lakh and Rs 80 lakh to gain illegal entry into the United States, according to the news agency PTI.

The flight had 303 passengers, 27 of whom decided to stay back in France after their flight was stopped there. 276 people were brought back to India on December 26.

As may as 66 of the 303 were from Gujarat, some of whom were minors, according to officials who spoke to PTI, including Superintendent of Police, CID-Crime and Railways, Sanjay Kharat. Police have recorded the statements of 55 of them.

Most of them have studied till classes 8 to 12.

Sources has reported that 15 agents are being investigated for their involvement in facilitating the illegal migration.

The Gujarat CID has also sought details from the Central Bureau of Investigation on the Dubai-based agency that chartered the flight.

The CID statement said that they were to travel from Ahmedabad to Dubai and land at Nicaragua, from where a network of agents would further facilitate them to cross the US-border.

The CID also said that it is seeking details of financial transactions for the visas.