U.S., Canadian Authorities Crack Human Smuggling Gang

Indian, Pakistani nationals illegally entering North America

U.S. and Canadian authorities have announced the breakup of a human smuggling enterprise suspected of illegally bringing dozens of Indian and Pakistani nationals through Canada into the United States.

A federal grand jury in Seattle indicted 14 suspects for their role in the scheme, after an investigation of more than a year, according to an April 12 press release from the U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement Agency (ICE). The authorities have 12 suspects in custody and two more are being sought. All are of Canadian, U.S., Indian or Pakistani citizenship.

Vancouver, Canada-based Kavel Multani, of dual Canadian and Indian citizenship, is charged with nine counts of human smuggling and transporting illegal aliens.

ICE and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) allege that Multani's criminal network charged foreign nationals from India and Pakistan $20,000-$35,000 per person for passage through Canada into the United States.

"Human smugglers prey on those who are seeking a better life, and potentially expose us to terrorist incursions," said U.S. Attorney John McKay in the ICE press release. "The leaders of smuggling rings not only victimize those willing to pay them, they undermine the security of both our countries."

The alleged smuggling ring has been under investigation since January 2005. U.S. border authorities have infrared images taken from border surveillance cameras showing aliens being escorted across the U.S.-Canadian border in a remote part of Washington, the northwestern-most state in the continental United States. After crossing the border, the aliens often were transported to other cities through the United States, according to ICE.

"This type of cooperative effort between Canadian and American law enforcement agencies demonstrates our commitment to ensuring that our shared border remains closed to criminal activity," said RCMP Chief Superintendent Bud Mercer. "The RCMP looks forward to continued cooperation with our American partners to ensure the interests of both countries are respected and our borders remain secure."

Source: U.S. Department of State

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