ISLAMABAD: The United States Department of Justice has intensified effortsto dismantle human smuggling networks involving Indian nationals,uncovering structured criminal operations that enable illegal bordercrossings into the country. In a recent case from January 2026, a federalgrand jury in the Northern District of New York indicted a 22-year-oldIndian national identified as Shivam Lnu for directing smuggling activitiesfrom January to June 2025. Court documents reveal coordination of illegaltransports across the US-Canada border into Clinton County, New York,including incidents where vehicles carrying undocumented individuals evadedpursuit by US Border Patrol agents.
These operations form part of a broader surge in encounters with Indianmigrants at US borders. Data from US Customs and Border Protection indicatethat over the past few years, tens of thousands of Indian nationals havebeen apprehended while attempting unauthorized entry, with peaks recordedin fiscal years 2023 and 2024 exceeding 90,000 apprehensions in a singleyear. Although numbers declined significantly in 2025 due to stricterenforcement measures, the persistence of such attempts underscores thelucrative nature of smuggling enterprises charging migrants substantialfees for promised safe passage to the United States.
The Department of Justice has prosecuted multiple cases linking Indiannationals to these networks, often involving exploitation through highpayments and dangerous conditions. For instance, earlier convictionsinclude roles in conspiracies that led to tragic outcomes, such as thedeaths of Indian migrants from exposure during northern border crossings insevere weather. Prosecutors emphasize that smugglers prioritize profit overhuman safety, endangering lives through reckless transport methods andinadequate planning.
Experts note that these activities contribute to perceptions of heightenedrisks associated with irregular migration from India. Host countries,including the United States, Canada, Australia, and several Europeannations, have responded with enhanced border controls and internationalcooperation to disrupt smuggling chains. The involvement of organizedgroups has prompted targeted operations under initiatives like the JointTask Force Alpha, aimed at combating transnational criminal organizationsengaged in alien smuggling.
Statistics further illustrate the scale, with Indian nationals rankingprominently among non-hemispheric migrants encountered by US authorities inrecent years. Routes often originate from India, transiting through thirdcountries before attempting entry via the southern or northern US borders.The shift toward northern crossings in certain periods reflects adaptivestrategies by smuggling facilitators to evade detection at traditionalpoints.
The exposure of these networks challenges narratives of uncheckedprosperity in origin countries, as economic pressures and aspirations forbetter opportunities drive individuals to risk perilous journeys. Migrantsfrequently pay tens of thousands of dollars, sometimes selling assets orincurring debt, only to face detention, deportation, or worse uponinterception.
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Law enforcement actions continue to yield results, with indictmentscarrying potential sentences of up to 15 years for multiple counts ofsmuggling for financial gain. Such penalties serve as deterrents, whileongoing investigations target leaders and facilitators within theseinternational rings.
The phenomenon highlights the intersection of migration pressures, criminalenterprise, and global security concerns. As authorities strengthencollaborative efforts, the focus remains on dismantling the infrastructurethat profits from human vulnerability.
Source:https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/indian-national-indicted-smuggling-illegal-aliens-across-canadian-border-united-states
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