22-Year-Old Indian National Pleads Guilty to Running Human Smuggling Ring in New York

A 22-year-old Indian national, identified as Shivam, has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a human smuggling operation that transported individuals from Canada into the United States. According to the US Department of Justice, Shivam coordinated these illegal activities between October 2024 and June 2025. He arranged for drivers to pick up migrants who had crossed the northern border illegally and transport them to stash houses and hotels in Plattsburgh, New York. Authorities revealed that Shivam paid drivers USD 100 per person transported. In one significant incident in January 2025, he directed co-conspirators to smuggle 12 individuals from India and the UK. This operation ended when US Border Patrol agents pursued two vehicles near the border; one vehicle crashed while the other was stopped in Mooers, New York, leading to the discovery of the migrants. Shivam has admitted to one count of conspiracy to commit alien smuggling and three counts of smuggling for financial gain. He faces a prison sentence ranging from five to fifteen years, with sentencing scheduled for September 2026. This case highlights ongoing challenges in securing the US-Canada border against organized smuggling networks.