Who Is Gagandeep Singh Caught For Smuggling Man Via Deadly Dunki Route News24 –

Amid the US deportation of illegal Indian immigrants, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Sunday arrested a key accused involved in human trafficking through the dangerous ‘dunki’ route. Delhi police arrested Gagandeep Singh alias Goldie from West Delhi’s Tilak Nagar. A man from Punjab’s Tarn Taran district filed a complaint leading to his arrest. According to the NIA, authorities deported Goldie back to India earlier this month. Traffickers had sent him to the US via the infamous Dunki route in December 2024. The victim said that he had paid around Rs 45 Lakh to the accused agent for the illegal immigration.

Who Is Goldie?

As per NIA, Goldie do not possess any licence, legal permit or registration for sending persons abroad. He had used the donkey route to sent the victim to the US via Spain, Salvador, Guatemala and Mexico. The agency also alleged that the donkers and Goldie’s associates physically assaulted and exploited the victim during the difficult journey. Additionally, they snatched the dollars he was carrying. The victim in this case had paid around Rs 45 Lakh to the accused agent for the illegal immigration, as per his complaint.

“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 read. 

What Is A Dunki Route?

Experts believe the term ‘dunki’ originated from the word “donkey,” referring to an illegal pathway that immigrants use to enter countries like the US. Human traffickers smuggle people without proper documentation and arrange their dangerous and exhausting journey through a trafficking network.

The agents often exploit the travellers by charging them heavy rates ranging from Rs 30-40 lakh to one crore. This they do by giving fake promises. The dunki route usually begins with Latin American countries, such as Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Brazil, and Venezuela, Where Visa facilities are available for Indians. Various reports say that they are made to cross the Darian Gap jungle between Colombia and Panama which is highly dangerous known for wild animals and criminal gangs. Crossing the Rio Grande River on the Mexico-US border is also reported to be high risk for the migrants.