A plane carrying 303 Indian passengers bound for Nicaragua was released after departing from a French airport on suspicion of human trafficking, in a case in which two people were arrested on Saturday.
The plane, an Airbus A340 operated by Romanian company Legend Airlines, landed at Chalons-Vatry airport, about 90 miles (140 kilometers) east of Paris, at around 2 p.m. GMT on Thursday for a technical stopover at the airport. Route from United Arab Emirates (USA) to Managua as explained by authorities.
This Sunday, the interrogations of the three hundred passengers began, a situation considered unusual in this country.
Four judges, four court clerks, as many Hindi interpreters and seven lawyers will participate in the trial, which will last until Monday. Determine if there is a reason to continue the hold.
“It is something completely unusual” Both because of the circumstances of the procedure and its scale, said this Sunday on public radio France Info, the president of the bar of the neighboring town of Châlons, in Champagne, François Procureur, who was involved in the organization.
The prosecutor added that based on the interrogations, judges will be able to decide whether to lift or extend the detention, which could take another eight days.
The plane was stopped last Thursday after French authorities received an anonymous tip about the case. Among the passengers were victims of human trafficking.
Two of the passengers were arrested. while the thirty crew members were released.
The plane’s occupants also included eleven unaccompanied minors who have been given legal representation in France. Six of them started the asylum procedure in this country.
The investigation led by the Paris Public Prosecutor’s Office concerns a suspected case of human trafficking in an organized gang, a crime punishable in France by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to 3 million euros.
Participation in research by various police, judicial and administrative organizations specialized in international human trafficking.
In addition, 58 of the passengers applied for asylum in France, L’Union said, citing judicial sources.
Although the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the Prefecture (Government Delegation) of the Marne department provide only summary information, no member of the government has made any public statement on this case.
The small airport, which normally receives cheap flights, was closed by police to prevent people from entering and leaving the facility.
By decision of the mayor, the lobby was converted into a waiting room for foreigners.
Single beds were made available to passengers in the “best possible reception conditions,” the city hall said. They also received hygiene products, healthcare and regular meals.
The airline’s lawyer, Liliana Bakayoko, said yesterday Saturday that the flight was booked by “a trusted customer of the company”, who he asked to take this flight.
The lawyer declined to name this client to protect her right to the presumption of innocence, but made it clear that it was a company “registered outside the European Union” with which Legend Airlines operated some flights in the past.
Bakayoko stressed that the airline has nothing to do with any possible irregularities as all passengers have valid passports and visas and have passed police checks at the departure airport.
The Indian embassy in France reported on X (formerly Twitter) that it is offering consular assistance to its citizens. “We are investigating the situation.” and ensure the well-being of passengers,” he added.
Staff from the Indian Consulate in Paris have been deployed to Varty, the embassy added, thanking French authorities for the work done. “This long Christmas holiday weekend.”
Sources close to the case pointed out to local media the hypothesis that the passengers could be Indian workers in the US trying to join the flow of immigrants seeking to reach the United States or Canada from Central America, as people with this nationality are already one of the large groups on this route.
(With information from EFE)
Source: La Neta Neta
Karen Clayton is a seasoned journalist and author at The Nation Update, with a focus on world news and current events. She has a background in international relations, which gives her a deep understanding of the political, economic and social factors that shape the global landscape. She writes about a wide range of topics, including conflicts, political upheavals, and economic trends, as well as humanitarian crisis and human rights issues.
