US 'Dunkey Route' Scam: ED Arrests Delhi Ticketing Agent Linked to Mass Deportations
The ED has arrested Tarun Khosla for facilitating illegal US entry via the dangerous Dunkey Route, charging victims up to Rs 60 lakh.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has dealt a major blow to a sophisticated human smuggling network by arresting a Delhi-based ticketing agent in connection with the notorious ‘Dunkey Route’ case. The arrest is linked to a massive operation that saw over 300 Indian nationals deported from the United States in February 2025 after they were caught entering the country illegally via the Mexico border.
The accused, identified as Tarun Khosla, was apprehended on October 23 under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. A special PMLA court has granted the ED custody of Khosla until October 30. The operation was carried out by the ED's Jalandhar zonal office as part of a larger investigation triggered by FIRs filed by the Punjab and Haryana Police under the Emigration Act, 1983, and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
The Deception: False Promises and Dangerous Journeys
According to the ED, the racket operated by inducing hopeful Indians with the promise of legal migration to the USA. Instead of legal channels, victims were pushed into the "Dunkey route"—a perilous journey involving the illegal crossing of multiple South and Central American borders. This journey was facilitated by local "donkers" and organized mafia groups.
The financial cost of this illegal dream was staggering. Victims were charged anywhere between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 60 lakh to be smuggled into the US.
The Role of Tarun Khosla: The Master Facilitator
Investigation reveals that Tarun Khosla was not just a ticket agent but a central figure in the smuggling network. He acted as the primary link between agents in Punjab and Haryana and the logistics required for the journey.
- The Process: Agents in Punjab and Haryana collected passports and money from victims and handed them over to Khosla in Delhi.
- The Logistics: Khosla arranged visas and air tickets to transit countries in South America, including Guyana, Suriname, Ecuador, and El Salvador.
- The Control: He was a key decision-maker, determining the routes and setting the pricing for each individual traveling through the network.
Massive Seizures and Evidence
The ED has conducted several raids to uncover the scale of the crime. On July 9 and 11, 2025, searches at 19 locations uncovered bogus immigration and visa stamps for Ethiopia and Nicaragua.
The financial crackdown intensified on December 15, 2025, when the ED provisionally attached properties worth Rs 5.41 crore, including residential and business premises, agricultural land, and bank balances.
Subsequent raids on December 18 and 19, 2025, at Khosla's premises led to a massive recovery of assets totaling Rs 19.14 crore, which included:
- Cash amounting to Rs 4.62 crore.
- Gold bars and coins weighing approximately 5.9 kg.
- Silver bars weighing about 313 kg.
- Over 50 original passports belonging to third parties.
- Transaction records, diaries, and digital devices.
Decoding the 'Dunkey' Routes
With the arrest of Khosla, the ED has identified three distinct, dangerous routes used to smuggle Indians into the USA:
Route A: The Direct Approach
Travelers flew to El Salvador, traveled by road to Mexico, reached Tijuana, and then crossed into the USA. This route cost between Rs 35-40 lakh per person.
Route B: The Long Haul
This route involved flying via Dubai or Addis Ababa to Guyana, followed by a grueling road journey through Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, the Panama jungle, Guatemala, Mexico, and finally Tijuana. This cost between Rs 25-30 lakh per person.
Route C: The Extreme Trek
Based on a deportee's account, this most extensive route spanned Guyana, Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Panama, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico before reaching the US border.
The ED further noted that data retrieved from Khosla's seized mobile phones contains incriminating chats that further solidify his role in this illegal operation.