#BREAKING: Dunki Arrested! NIA Nabs Key Accused in US Trafficking Racket

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) struck a major blow against human trafficking on Sunday, arresting Gagandeep Singh, alias Goldie, a west Delhi resident accused of illegally funneling a Punjab man to the United States via the notorious “dunki” route.

The arrest shines a spotlight on the shadowy networks exploiting desperate migrants with promises of a better life abroad.

The “dunki” route—a term derived from “donkey,” symbolizing its grueling, illicit nature—refers to the treacherous, undocumented pathways immigrants brave to enter countries like the US, often orchestrated by human-trafficking syndicates.

Goldie, nabbed in Tilak Nagar, allegedly pocketed Rs 45 lakh from a victim hailing from Punjab’s Tarn Taran district to facilitate this perilous journey in December 2024. The victim’s American dream crumbled when US authorities deported him back to India on February 15, 2025, prompting him to file a complaint against the “agent.”

Originally probed by Punjab Police, the case landed with the NIA on March 13, unveiling a chilling tale of exploitation. Investigations revealed Goldie, unlicensed and unauthorized, orchestrated the victim’s route through Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico.

Along the way, the victim endured beatings and extortion by Goldie’s associates—known as “donkers”—who even snatched his dollars, the NIA disclosed.

This bust comes amid rising concerns over illegal migration. Just days ago, on March 28, Union Minister Kirti Vardhan Singh told Lok Sabha that 636 Indian nationals have been deported from the US since January 2025.

Goldie’s arrest marks a critical step in dismantling the “dunki” pipeline, but with syndicates still at large, the NIA’s hunt continues. For now, one trafficker’s game is up—caught in Delhi’s shadows, far from the promised land he peddled.