A man recently apprehended in Ontario is accused by authorities of being involved in a human smuggling operation that tragically led to a family of four perishing near the Manitoba-U.S. border. The man, identified as Fenil Patel and residing in Brampton, Ont., was taken into custody on Sept. 5 after the United States requested his extradition. Alleged charges against Patel include conspiracy to transport aliens into the U.S., resulting in fatalities, as indicated in court records obtained by CBC News.
The incident occurred almost four years ago when the Patel family, unrelated to Fenil Patel, succumbed to hypothermia while attempting an illegal border crossing into Minnesota near Emerson, Man. The lifeless bodies of Jagdish Patel, 39, his wife Vaishali, 37, their daughter Vihangi, 11, and son Dharmik, 3, were discovered just meters from the U.S. border after becoming separated from their migrant group.
Recent court filings in Fenil Patel’s case express concerns that he might flee the country after the convictions and sentencings of two other individuals involved in the smuggling operation. There were also attempts by CBC News to access information from the RCMP investigative file on Patel, potentially risking the disclosure of sensitive details and prompting Patel to leave Canada. The documents reveal that the U.S. authorities face challenges in arresting and extraditing Patel if he were to escape to India, given the extradition treaty limitations and perceived lack of cooperation from Indian authorities.
Additional information disclosed during the trial of Steve Shand and Harshkumar Patel, who are not related to Fenil Patel, suggests that the deceased family sought help from Fenil Patel on the fateful night due to extreme cold conditions. It was alleged that Patel assisted migrants in obtaining Canadian student visas, sharing their details with a witness who facilitated their illegal border crossing.
Despite facing charges in India related to the Patel family’s demise, CBC’s investigation revealed Fenil Patel leading a quiet life in a Toronto suburb. Extradition experts opine that the duration of the extradition process in Patel’s case is uncertain, with factors such as consent, legal challenges, and procedural delays potentially prolonging the proceedings. The publicity surrounding the case and the unique circumstances of Patel’s provisional arrest warrant may influence the extradition timeline, creating uncertainties about his potential escape. Patel’s court appearance in Ontario is scheduled for Friday.