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India attaches $595K assets in illegal U.S. migration case
The assets were frozen under India’s money-laundering law following police cases in Punjab and Haryana.
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Malvika Choudhary - Tue, 16, Dec 2025
- 14:09 EST
- 18
Representative Image / File Photo
India’s federal financial crime agency attached assets worth about $595,000 (approximately) linked to an illegal immigration network accused of sending people to the United States through the “dunky” route.
In a statement, the Enforcement Directorate said the attached movable and immovable properties are connected to agents Shubham Sharma, Jagjit Singh and Surmukh Singh, who allegedly facilitated unlawful migration in exchange for large sums of money.
Also Read: UK to launch digital ID scheme to curb illegal migration
The assets, identified as proceeds of crime, include agricultural land, residential properties, business premises and bank accounts held in the names of the accused and their family members. The attachment has been carried out under India’s Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The money laundering probe was initiated following multiple police cases registered in the northern Indian states of Punjab and Haryana. According to the agency, the cases are linked to the deportation of 330 Indian nationals by the United States government in February 2025 after they were found to have entered the country illegally.
Investigation revealed that the accused agents and their associates allegedly cheated people by promising legal migration to the United States and charging hefty fees.
Instead, the migrants were sent through dangerous and unauthorized routes via several South American countries before being made to cross the U.S–Mexico border illegally.
The agency said that during the journey, migrants were subjected to physical and mental abuse, extortion for additional payments and coercion into committing illegal acts. The accused allegedly generated substantial proceeds of crime by exploiting the desperation of individuals seeking overseas employment and settlement opportunities.
The case comes amid heightened scrutiny of illegal migration networks following a series of U.S deportation flights returning Indian nationals earlier this year.
The deportations drew attention to the risks associated with the so-called “dunky” route, a long and perilous pathway used by undocumented migrants involving multiple international transit points and illegal border crossings.
The agency said further investigation in the matter is ongoing.
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