French authorities have detained a plane carrying 303 Indian passengers on suspicion of human trafficking, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Friday.
The plane, which was en route from the United Arab Emirates to Nicaragua, was stopped at Paris-Vatry Airport, about 160 kilometers (100 miles) east of Paris, after an anonymous tip.
The French National Anti-Organized Crime Agency (OCLCIFF) is investigating to see if there is any evidence to support the allegations of human trafficking by an organized gang. Human trafficking is a crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison and a fine of three million euros.
A source close to the investigation said the plane was in France to refuel, and it is possible that the Indian passengers were planning to travel to Central America and then attempt to enter the United States or Canada illegally. The investigation is ongoing.
