ED Conducts Raids in Punjab and Haryana Over Donkey Route Trafficking Case

Speedy Summary:

• The Enforcement Directorate (ED) conducted searches at 11 locations in Punjab and Haryana on July 8, 2025, related to the “Donkey Route” case involving illegal immigration to the U.S.
• Locations include Amritsar, Sangrur, Patiala, Moga (Punjab), and Ambala, Kurukshetra, Karnal (Haryana).
• Investigations are based on 17 FIRs filed against travel/visa agents by police in Haryana and Punjab.
• Agents allegedly promised legal air travel but charged ₹45-50 lakh per victim while secretly sending them via illegal borders (“Donkey Route”).
• Routes involved hazardous terrains controlled by human trafficking networks (“donkers” and mafia), forcing victims and families to pay additional amounts under duress.
• Statements from deportees led ED to identify suspects targeted in recent searches.
• Earlier arrests by NIA included Sunny aka Sunny Donker (Himachal Pradesh) & Shubham Sandhal aka Deep Hundi (Delhi),associates of Gagandeep Singh-another key accused arrested in March for trafficking over 100 people illegally.

Indian opinion Analysis:

The ED’s crackdown reflects India’s increasing efforts to counter organized human trafficking operations exploiting vulnerable individuals seeking foreign opportunities. The reliance on illegal routes exposes victims to exploitation by criminal organizations operating transnationally. While targeting agents is a critical step toward dismantling such networks, the persistence of high demand for migration reflects underlying socio-economic disparities driving emigration.

From a broader governance perspective, improved monitoring systems for visa applications paired with grassroots awareness campaigns could help deter individuals from falling prey to fraudulent schemes. Collaborating internationally with destination countries like the U.S., especially around deportation protocols or intelligence sharing regarding traffickers’ methods (“Donkey Route”), could strengthen India’s enforcement capabilities.

Read More: The Hindu