Indian-origin man arrested in Chicago in connection with tragic 2022 human smuggling incident

Human Smuggling: In a recent development, Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, an individual of Indian origin, has been apprehended in Chicago in connection with an investigation into a tragic human smuggling incident that occurred in January 2022. The incident involved a family of four from Gujarat, India, including two children, who lost their lives while attempting to illegally enter the United States from Canada.

Arrest and charges

Patel, also known by aliases such as 'Dirty Harry,' 'Param Singh,' and 'Haresh Rameshlal Patel,' was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. He faces charges related to the "transportation of illegal alien and conspiracy to bring and attempt to bring an illegal alien to the United States."

Details of the human smuggling conspiracy

Court documents filed in the US District Court for the District of Minnesota provide intricate details about Patel's involvement in the human smuggling conspiracy. The incident took place on January 19, 2022, near Emerson, Manitoba, where four family members were found frozen to death while attempting to cross the border.

Patel's role in the human smuggling operation

The documents reveal communication between Patel and another individual, Steve Shand, regarding the arrangements for transportation, accommodation, and payments related to the smuggling operation. Patel was identified as the manager of a gambling establishment in Florida.

Patel had been denied a US visa on multiple occasions between 2014 and 2016. The investigation also uncovered previous attempts by a human smuggling organization based in Gujarat, India, to facilitate the illegal entry of Indian nationals into the United States.

The affidavit points to Rajinder Singh as a key figure in the US facilitation of the smuggling group. Singh identified Fenilkumar Patel in Toronto as the person responsible for arranging the ill-fated trip of the family that perished in Manitoba, Canada.

Further investigations revealed that Indian nationals smuggled by the Gujarat-based group often find employment in a chain of restaurants in Chicago, reportedly owned by an individual from India who has also been identified. The Gujarat Police suspect that this restaurant owner facilitates the smuggling of Indian nationals to work in his establishments for sub-standard wages, providing a means to pay off their debts.

The arrest of Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel sheds light on the intricate web of human smuggling operations and the challenges faced by individuals seeking illegal entry into the United States. Patel is set to appear for a detention hearing on February 28.

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