The Directorate of Enforcement (ED), Jalandhar Zonal Office, conducted search operations at seven locations across Punjab and Haryana on July 11, 2025. The coordinated raids spanned the districts of Mansa (Punjab), and Kurukshetra and Karnal (Haryana) under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002.
The action stems from a broader investigation into the infamous ‘Donkey Route’ case, linked to the deportation of several Indian nationals from the United States in February 2025. The searches were a follow-up to earlier raids conducted on July 9, 2025, and were based on critical evidence uncovered during those operations.
The ED probe was initiated following multiple FIRs registered by the Punjab and Haryana Police under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 2023 (formerly IPC, 1860) and the Immigration Act, 1983. During the raids, the ED seized forged emigration stamps from several foreign countries, visa templates, digital devices, and other incriminating documents.
The investigation has revealed that the accused were using forged visa documents and emigration stamps to manipulate records of migrants attempting to settle abroad. These manipulated documents were then used to facilitate high-risk illegal journeys through the so-called ‘donkey routes’—a term commonly used to describe perilous, undocumented travel paths through multiple countries.
The ED has gathered credible evidence indicating that the accused were generating substantial proceeds of crime (POC) from this illegal enterprise. Several travel agents and middlemen are alleged to have accumulated significant movable and immovable assets from these activities.
Notably, some travel agents operated without signage, evading public visibility and regulatory oversight. Investigators found that many of them collaborated with Indian nationals residing overseas to facilitate illegal immigration. These agents falsely assured potential migrants, including deportees, that they would be sent abroad via legal means. Communications between the agents and their foreign counterparts were often conducted through encrypted channels and international WhatsApp numbers, pointing to a well-organized transnational network.
The ED has also uncovered evidence of illicit money transfers routed through hawala channels as part of this human trafficking operation.
The investigation is ongoing, and further action under PMLA and related laws is expected as more layers of this illicit network come to light.
Read More: Ahmedabad CA Accused of Forging Trustees’ Signatures; ED Attaches Properties Worth ₹6.80 Crore
