A plane carrying around 300 Indian nationals has landed in Mumbai – much to the relief of passengers – after being intercepted in France, in what appears to be a case of human trafficking. According to reliable sources, Indian authorities were tipped off by their counterparts in Dubai.

On December 21, the chartered plane Airbus A340 took off from Dubai for Nicaragua. It stopped in France for refuelling where it was held for some days on suspicions of human trafficking. The plane was prevented from departing from the Châlons-Vatry Airport, about 130km (81 miles) from Paris.

In what appears to have been a clear case of security co-operation, India and Dubai reached out to the French authorities. All efforts were made to keep the operation low key and India and Dubai cooperated with the French to bring the saga to an end. The Indian Embassy has posted its appreciation to the French officials on X.

“(We) thank the French government and Vatry Airport for the quick resolution of the situation enabling Indian passengers to return home and for the hospitality. Also for working closely with embassy team, present throughout at the site to ensure welfare and smooth and safe return,” the Indian embassy in Paris stated in an announcement.

India-UAE security ties, have developed greatly over the last few years and both countries share a robust relationship when it comes to security cooperation. Most people onboard the flight were Indian citizens, working in the UAE. However, 25 of them chose to stay on in France and have applied for asylum. Two among these 25 are minors. Two suspected traffickers were initially held in France for further investigations but later set free by the courts. Some questions like the real extent of the role played by the airlines and details about those involved still remain unanswered.

The plane was operated by the Romanian charter company Legend Airlines. The destination of Nicaragua has evoked suspicions as Nicaragua in Central America has become an easy route for many to illegally enter the United States or Canada. Additionally, the US government has shortlisted Nicaragua among countries failing to meet minimum standards for eliminating human trafficking. Legend Airlines has, however, denied any role in the suspected human trafficking angle. – The writer is Executive Editor of Nrifocus.com