Chartered flight carrying Indian passengers grounded in Jamaica over suspected illegal immigration concern

• The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, disclosed that the flight had departed Kingston bound for Dubai on May 7

• Jaiswal clarified during a weekly media briefing that the flight, registered in Germany, had landed in Kingston from Dubai on May 2 with Indian passengers intending for tourism purposes, supported by pre-existing hotel reservations

Highlights/ India/ NRI/ GCC heaslines

Lakshmi Sharan

PRAVASISAMWAD.COM

A chartered flight originating from Dubai, carrying numerous Indian passengers, including approximately 75 individuals from Gujarat, was refused entry upon arrival in Kingston, Jamaica, due to concerns regarding the validity of the passengers’ documentation.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, disclosed that the flight had departed Kingston bound for Dubai on May 7. Jaiswal clarified during a weekly media briefing that the flight, registered in Germany, had landed in Kingston from Dubai on May 2 with Indian passengers intending for tourism purposes, supported by pre-existing hotel reservations.

However, Jamaican authorities cast doubt on the passengers’ claimed tourist status, prompting their decision to deny entry to the flight, instructing it to return to its departure point in Dubai. The passengers complied with this directive, departing Kingston on May 7.

• Investigations by central agencies, including the Gujarat Crime Investigation Department (CID), revealed that approximately 75 Gujarati passengers aboard the flight were traveling on tourist visas

• Additionally, suspicions arose regarding the presence of passengers from Punjab, raising concerns of an attempted illegal immigration scheme towards the United States via the Mexico border

A report published in the Jamaica Observer detailed that among the 253 foreign passengers on board, all were denied entry by immigration officials citing security apprehensions. The Ministry of National Security in Jamaica affirmed that routine security screenings of incoming flights are conducted to prevent potential threats and breaches of law or regulations.

This incident echoes a similar occurrence last December when a plane bound for Nicaragua, carrying Indian nationals, was grounded in France over suspected human trafficking activities. The Gujarat CID subsequently charged 14 agents with human trafficking for allegedly orchestrating the illegal migration of over 60 individuals from Gujarat to the US. Among the 303 passengers on board the Legend Airways flight from Fujairah, UAE, to Nicaragua, 66 hailed from Gujarat.

Ultimately, the passengers returned to Mumbai on December 25, 2023, after the flight’s disruption in France. These incidents underscore the ongoing challenges surrounding international migration and the measures taken by authorities to combat illegal immigration.

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