Ottawa: A report from media stated that a former British Airways employee has reportedly fled to India after being arrested for allegedly aiding Indian citizens in bypassing immigration laws to claim asylum in Canada. The individual, who worked at Heathrow airport in London, UK, allegedly facilitated individuals lacking proper documentation to board flights to Canada, where they intended to claim asylum upon arrival. It's claimed that he charged £25,000 per person or approximately $43,000 for this service. The alleged scheme is believed to have generated £3 million or over $5.1 million.
According to the Times of London, Canadian immigration officials raised concerns after noticing an influx of people flying to Toronto or Vancouver without proper documentation, and claiming asylum.
Typically, airline staff are responsible for verifying passengers' eligibility to travel to their intended destinations. However, leveraging his position at British Airways, the 24-year-old reportedly managed to deceive authorities by falsely asserting that his victims possessed the necessary documentation for travel to Canada. Allegedly, the former employee's modus operandi involved ensuring that prospective immigrants approached his check-in desk at the airport. Subsequently, during the boarding process, he purportedly met them again and falsely arrested for the second time that they possessed the required documents.
The former British Airways employee was arrested on Jan. 6, but after making bail, he and his partner, who also worked for British Airways, allegedly fled to India, where he reportedly owns multiple properties and is still on the run from UK, and Indian authorities. If he is captured, India and the UK have an extradition treaty.