Current:Home > ScamsAbout 300 Indian nationals headed to Nicaragua detained in French airport amid human trafficking investigation -ProfitBlueprint Hub
About 300 Indian nationals headed to Nicaragua detained in French airport amid human trafficking investigation
View
Date:2025-04-19 20:20:30
About 300 Indian citizens heading to Nicaragua were sequestered in a French airport for a third day Saturday after a dramatic police operation prompted by a tip that those aboard might be victims of human trafficking, authorities said.
Those aboard included children and families. The youngest passenger is a toddler of 21 months, and among the children are several unaccompanied minors, according to the local civil protection agency.
Two of the passengers have been detained as part of a special investigation into suspected human trafficking by an organized criminal group, according to the Paris prosecutor's office. Prosecutors wouldn't comment on what kind of trafficking was alleged, or whether the ultimate destination was the U.S., which has seen a surge in Indians crossing the Mexico-U.S. border this year.
Vast trafficking investigation
French authorities hung white tarps across the soaring bay windows of the small Vatry Airport in Champagne country to ensure privacy for the passengers held inside. The unmarked A340 plane, grounded since Thursday, can be seen parked near the terminal. Other flights were canceled or rerouted as the airport was transformed into the hub of a vast trafficking investigation.
The 15 crew members of the Legend Airlines charter flight - en route from Fujairah airport in the United Arab Emirates to Managua, Nicaragua - were questioned and released, according to a lawyer for the Romania-based airline.
A surreal holiday weekend scene has been unfolding in the Vatry Airport since Thursday. The flight stopped for refueling, and was grounded by French police based on an anonymous tip that it could be carrying victims of human trafficking, the prosecutor's office said.
The unusual and sudden probe disrupted air travel as police cordoned off the airport and flights were disrupted, according to the administration for the Marne region. The airfield is used primarily for charter and cargo flights.
Police sequestered the passengers in the airport, where they spent two nights on camp beds while the investigation continues, according to an official with the Marne administration. The official said the passengers initially remained in the plane, surrounded by police on the tarmac, but were then transferred into the main hall of the airport to sleep.
Emergency workers, a doctor and local volunteers are on the scene and the passengers are being given regular meals, medical care and access to toilets and showers, said Patrick Jaloux, head of the regional civil protection service. A special section of the terminal has been equipped for families.
As the ordeal drags on, ''we are trying to find ways to help them pass the time'' and reduce their distress, Jaloux told the Associated Press.
Indian consular representatives are stationed at the airport and working with the French government ''for the welfare of the Indians'' and for an ''early resolution of the situation,'' the Indian Embassy in France posted Saturday on X.
Legend Airlines lawyer Liliana Bakayoko said the company is cooperating with French authorities, denies any role in possible human trafficking and ''has not committed any infraction.''
A "partner" company that chartered the plane was responsible for verifying the identity documents of each passenger, and communicated their passport information to the airline 48 hours before the flight, Bakayoko told The Associated Press.
The customer had chartered multiple flights on Legend Airlines from Dubai to Nicaragua, and a few other flights have already made the journey without incident, she said. She would not identify the customer, saying only that it is not a European company.
The crew members, who are of multiple nationalities, "are rather traumatized," she said. "They wrote me messages that they want to see their families for Christmas."
Influx of Indian migrants
The U.S. government has designated Nicaragua as one of several countries deemed as failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking.
Nicaragua has also been used as a migratory springboard for people fleeing poverty or conflict in the Caribbean as well as far-flung countries in Africa or Asia, because of relaxed or visa-free entry requirements for some countries. Sometimes charter flights are used for the journey. From there, the migrants travel north by bus with the help of smugglers.
The influx of Indian migrants through Mexico has increased from fewer than 3,000 in 2022 to more than 11,000 from January to November this year, according to the Mexican Immigration Agency. Indian citizens were arrested 41,770 times entering the U.S. illegally from Mexico in the U.S. government's budget year that ended Sept. 30, more than double from 18,308 the previous year.
- In:
- India
- Nicaragua
- France
veryGood! (6)
Related
- Alex Murdaugh’s murder appeal cites biased clerk and prejudicial evidence
- Nicki Minaj cancels New Orleans concert hours before due to 'doctor's orders'
- Trump's lawyers say it's a practical impossibility to secure $464 million bond in time
- Paris Olympics lifts intimacy ban for athletes and is stocking up on 300,000 condoms
- Federal court filings allege official committed perjury in lawsuit tied to Louisiana grain terminal
- Missing student Riley Strain talked to officer night he vanished, body cam footage shows
- Barack Obama releases NCAA March Madness 2024 brackets: See the former president's picks
- Sports Illustrated to live on, now with new publisher in tow
- Hackers hit Rhode Island benefits system in major cyberattack. Personal data could be released soon
- Don't Miss Out on These Early Fashion Deals From Amazon's Big Spring Sale That Include Up to 66% Off
Ranking
- NFL Week 15 picks straight up and against spread: Bills, Lions put No. 1 seed hopes on line
- The biggest revelations from Peacock's Stormy Daniels doc: Trump, harassment and more
- 'Who Would Win?': March Mammal Madness is underway. Here's everything players need to know
- Which NCAA women's basketball teams are in March Madness 2024? See the full list by conference.
- Toyota to invest $922 million to build a new paint facility at its Kentucky complex
- Feds propose air tour management plan for Lake Mead National Recreation Area in Nevada and Arizona
- Ex-girlfriend of actor Jonathan Majors files civil suit accusing him of escalating abuse, defamation
- As electric vehicle sales slow, US relaxes plans for stricter auto emissions standards for a while
Recommendation
Most popular books of the week: See what topped USA TODAY's bestselling books list
The Best Tummy Control Swimsuits of 2024 for All-Day Confidence, From Bikinis to One-Pieces & More
Russia's Vladimir Putin hails election victory, but critics make presence known despite harsh suppression
South Carolina’s governor marks new gun law with ceremonial bill signing
A South Texas lawmaker’s 15
NIT is practically obsolete as more teams just blow it off. Blame the NCAA.
Arizona lawmaker resigns after report of sexual misconduct allegation in college
Brittany Cartwright Reveals if Jax Taylor Cheating Caused Their Breakup