The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a main suspect accused of illegally sending a man to the United States through the notorious 'dunki' route.

The word "dunki," which is thought to have sprung from the word "donkey," describes an illegal approach taken by immigrants to enter nations such as the United States without the required paperwork. Their difficult and dangerous journey is typically made possible by a human trafficking organisation. The NIA has arrested Gagandeep Singh, also known as Goldie, a resident of Tilak Nagar in West Delhi, according to an official statement released on Sunday.

Goldie is accused of taking around ₹45 lakh from a victim in Punjab's Tarn Taran district for illegal immigration, the statement added. According to the statement issued by the NIA, the victim was illegally sent to the United States through the 'dunki' route in December 2024. He filed a case against the accused "agent" after being deported to India by US officials on February 15. The case was first registered by the Punjab Police and later taken over by the NIA on March 13. During its investigation, the NIA found that Goldie, who did not have a license, legal permit, or registration to send people abroad, used the ‘dunki’ route to send the victim to the U.S. through Spain, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Mexico. 

"Donkers/associates of Goldie had even beaten up and exploited the victim, besides snatching the dollars he was carrying, during the arduous journey, NIA investigations further revealed," the statement said. On March 28, Union Minister of State for External Affairs Kirti Vardhan Singh responded to a question in the Lok Sabha by stating, "From January 2025 till date, a total of 636 Indian nationals have been deported to India from the US.”