Human Smuggler Testifies in Fergus Falls About Illegal Operation

FERGUS FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A man convicted of human smuggling testified Tuesday that he shuttled more than 500 Indian migrants across the U.S.-Canada border over four years as part of an international smuggling ring.

Rajinder Singh said he made over $400,000 as part of the sprawling scheme that included two men who are now on trial for human smuggling.

Indian national Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand of Florida are accused of trying to smuggle four Indian nationals across the U.S.-Canada border into Minnesota.

The family of four was found frozen to death in January 2022.

Federal prosecutors say Patel ran part of the smuggling scheme and recruited Shand as a driver.

Both men have pleaded not guilty.

Singh said migrants would often pay smugglers about $100,000 to get them from India to the U.S.

He usually smuggled people from British Columbia into Washington state.

But in late 2021, the operation’s leaders began sending people to cross the border into Minnesota.