The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has apprehended two main individuals suspected of being involved in human trafficking to the United States through the notorious ‘dunki’ route, officials reported on Saturday.
According to them, these arrests followed raids at separate locations in Himachal Pradesh and Delhi.
Identified as Sunny alias Sunny Donker from Dharamshala in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh, and Shubham Sandhal alias Deep Hundi from Ropar, Punjab who had been living in Peeragarhi, Outer Delhi, the two were arrested on Friday, the NIA said in its release.
The investigating agency characterized both of them as close friends of Gagandeep Singh alias Goldy, who had been arrested in March.
Gagandeep’s arrest came after a victim, who was smuggled into the US via the dunki route and later deported back to India in February, filed a complaint.
The word ‘dunki’, thought to be derived from ‘donkey’, refers to illegal and treacherous paths that migrants use to enter nations such as the United States without proper papers.
The agency reported that this hazardous and tiresome journey is usually organized by human trafficking rings. “Their victims were physically and mentally harassed during the journey by the donkers and agents intent on making extra money,” it added.
The NIA described Shubham Sandhal as an important hawala courier, who assisted in routing money to donkers in Latin America.
The agency further stated that Gagandeep depended on him to remit shares of the money taken from the victims to these donkers deployed in Latin American nations.
Taking over the investigation from Punjab Police on March 13, 2025, the NIA is still investigating the case, the statement further said.
Earlier, the NIA had charged a chargesheet against Gagandeep Singh, a Tilak Nagar resident in Delhi, on June 27.
Their investigation found that Gagandeep took around Rs. 45 lakh from every visitor, promising to send them to the US on valid visas.
Instead, he sent them on a harrowing journey through multiple countries, including Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico, the agency said.
Gagandeep had illegally sent more than 100 people to the US before being arrested, the NIA said.
Sunny, who was the main associate or ‘donker’ of Gagandeep’s operation, was heavily involved in arranging these illegal voyages, the agency added.
