A sustained crackdown on illegal immigration in West Bengal and Assam has forced trafficking networks to rapidly relocate their operations southward, with security officials warning on 18 July that touts are now targeting states where scrutiny remains comparatively low. The shift signals a nationwide expansion of what investigators describe as a well-funded, inter-state racket with alleged foreign backing.

How the Racket Is Shifting

According to security officials, touts who facilitate illegal immigration have begun identifying individuals already settled in West Bengal and Assam and are moving them to other parts of the country — particularly southern states — in response to intensified enforcement by state police forces and the Border Security Force (BSF). Officials say the drive against illegal immigrants has only recently gathered momentum, and a significant number are still believed to be living in the northeastern states and parts of North India.

'Those involved are now trying to turn this into a nationwide problem by moving illegal immigrants to different parts of the country, which has further increased the burden on security agencies,' an official said.

Karnataka Case Exposes Inter-State Network

The southward push came into sharp focus earlier this week when Mangaluru police in Karnataka identified Dilawar Hussain, Rasul Islam, and Moyiddin Islam as the alleged kingpins of a major illegal immigration racket operating in coordination with touts based in West Bengal. Investigators say the arrests point to a structured inter-state network, not isolated incidents.

ED Raids Reveal Scale of the Syndicate

Raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) at 13 locations across West Bengal, Delhi, Haryana, Maharashtra, and Uttar Pradesh have revealed the syndicate's reach. The ED found that the operation extends beyond illegal immigration into human trafficking and black money movement. The raids led to the seizure of ₹40 lakh in cash and gold.

Investigators also uncovered a transnational financial dimension: UK-based handlers reportedly operating hawala channels have been funnelling illicit funds into India to sustain the racket, according to officials.

ISI Angle and Foreign Funding Alleged

An Intelligence Bureau official alleged that the racket is backed by Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI), describing illegal immigration as a long-term strategy conceived after the 1971 Bangladesh liberation war. The alleged objective, according to the official, is to stress India's population, displace local employment, and effect demographic change — goals the ISI reportedly adopted after concluding it could not prevail in a conventional conflict with India.

'There is a lot of money involved, and the pressure from Pakistan too is very high,' the official said, adding that ISI-backed elements would not stand down even under sustained pressure from Indian agencies.

What Comes Next

Security agencies are now recalibrating surveillance across states that have so far seen lower enforcement activity. Officials say the syndicate's adaptability — and the financial incentives driving it — make a quick resolution unlikely. The ED probe is ongoing, and further arrests are expected as investigators follow the hawala trail and inter-state movement of individuals.