How Turkey earthquake disrupted illegal journeys to US from Gujarat

AHMEDABAD: Turkey, a transit point for many on illegal journeys to the US, was jolted by the earthquake in February.
This had an adverse effect on human smuggling. Sources in Gujarat Police and central agencies said many such would-be immigrants are stranded midway, particularly in Turkiye.
On Thursday, a Gandhinagar man was deported from Istanbul to Indira Gandhi International (IGI) airport in New Delhi after he was found to be travelling on a fake visa and passport.
Sources said the accused, Prit Patel of Paliyad village in Gandhinagar district, 19, did not manage to meet the agent at Istanbul airport who was to help him board a flight to Mexico. He was caught by security agencies and deported to India.
"A male passenger named Prit Ashok Patel, a resident of Kalashya Vaas in Paliyad village, arrived as a deportee from Istanbul and was handed over by the airlines for arrival immigration clearance. During scrutiny, it was noticed that he had been deported from Turkiye after being denied entry due to a counterfeit visa," states the FIR filed at IGI airport in Delhi.
An IGI airport officer said Patel had got a forged visa stamp from a local agent in Kalol.
"It was decided that when Patel got to Istanbul airport, a puller, a person who helps illegal immigrants leave airport premises or board connecting flights, would accompany him.
The agent from Gandhinagar could not arrange a puller for Patel and he was caught by Istanbul security personnel," an officer of Delhi police said.
The police at IGI airport booked Patel for cheating, forgery and producing forged documents as genuine.
A Gujarat police officer said human smugglers had rented housing facilities in Istanbul.
The earthquake in Turkiye on February 6 destroyed many such transit houses, which could thus not be used by illegal immigrants.