800 Indians smuggled into the US via Uber, California driver jailed

Rajinder Pal Singh, also known as Jaspal Gill, an Indian-origin driver, has been sentenced to three years in prison for his involvement in smuggling over 800 Indian citizens into the United States from Canada.

Singh, a resident of California, admitted to being a key member of a smuggling ring that utilized the ride-hailing app Uber to transport individuals across the border. The 49-year-old driver received a payment of $500,000 for his illegal activities.

Singh pleaded guilty in February and has now been sentenced in a US district court for his roles in conspiracy to transport and harbor aliens for profit, as well as conspiracy to commit money laundering, as stated by Acting US Attorney Tessa M Gorman.

Over a span of four years, Singh orchestrated the smuggling of more than 800 people into the US, primarily across the northern border and into Washington state.

Gorman emphasized the security threats and risks faced by the smuggled individuals during their journey, which often lasted weeks. Singh's actions not only exploited the aspirations of Indian nationals seeking a better life in the US but also burdened them with substantial debts reaching up to $70,000.

Starting from July 2018, Singh and his co-conspirators utilized Uber as a means of transportation for those who had illegally crossed the Canada-US border.