AHMEDABAD: In a phased deportation process, 15 Bangladeshi nationals and one minor were sent back to their country in January and February through different road trips.
This followed an operation by the city’s Crime Branch, which had detained 50 illegal immigrants near Chandola Lake in July last year.
Assistant commissioner of police (ACP) Bharat Patel of the Ahmedabad Crime Branch stated, “Our investigation found that several of these individuals had obtained fake Indian identity documents with local assistance. However, none of them were involved in any serious offense.”
Police discovered that some of the detained individuals were victims of human trafficking and forced labor. Patel further explained that satellite imaging and mapping were used to confirm their presence in the area. After their detention, the Special Branch coordinated with the Ministry of External Affairs and the Bangladeshi Embassy to facilitate their deportation.
The remaining 35 detainees, who are kept at a detention centre in Sardarnagar, are expected to be deported by March.
Meanwhile, central agencies are investigating financial transactions linked to illegal activities to track the movement of funds, said crime branch officers.