With the arrest of three Indians and an American customs inspector, US authorities have busted a gang that primarily aided Indians to sneak into the United States, in an operation that began more than a year ago.
Those arrested in New Jersey were Indian 'recruiters' Sudhir Passi, Shripad Shroti and Chetna Pandya and American customs inspector Otis Rackley.
"Rackley essentially held a key to the gates of the US and sold access to people willing to buy their way over our borders," US Attorney Christopher Christie said.
Investigators were tallying the number of immigrants the inspector helped sneak in or stay illegally in the US. Initial estimates suggest the smuggling operation could have netted its operators between $500,000 and $1 million, New Jersey-based newspaper Star Ledger reported.
Assistant Attorney Scott Resnik, the prosecutor on the case, said investigators believed Rackley took payoffs from 'upwards of 200' illegal immigrants. Those arrested face conspiracy charges with maximum prison terms of between five and 10 years.
The immigration racket came to light when Passi and Shroti reportedly approached a passenger, who was a government informant, and offered to sneak him into the US for $4,000 in August 2002.
Rackley allegedly whisked the informant past the customs counter on his arrival at the Newark Liberty International Airport in November asking him to 'look sad' and pretend he had come to America for a family medical emergency, prosecutors told a New Jersey court last week.
