A man in India accused of aiding in the smuggling of a family of four through Canada, leading to their tragic deaths near the U.S. border in Manitoba over three years ago, has been arrested. Fenil Patel was apprehended in response to an extradition request from the United States. Details regarding the arrest remain confidential due to the nature of extradition requests between states.
Indian authorities had previously implicated Patel in assisting in transporting the family during severe weather conditions in January 2022, resulting in the tragic demise of the Patel family members near the U.S. border. Charges of culpable homicide and human smuggling were brought against Fenil Patel in Gujarat, India, for his alleged involvement in the incident. Indian police claimed that Patel played a significant role in coordinating the final leg of the family’s journey to the border.
Efforts to extradite Patel and another individual allegedly linked to the case were initiated by Indian authorities in May 2023. Despite reports of Patel residing in various locations such as the U.S., Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver, investigations revealed him living discreetly in a suburb outside Toronto.
During a trial in Minnesota, Fenil Patel’s name surfaced multiple times in connection with the smuggling operation that led to the deaths of the Patel family. Testimonies indicated that Patel rented a vehicle in Toronto and drove to Winnipeg on the day the family was taken to the border. Witnesses identified him as a key figure in organizing smuggling activities on the Canadian side of the border.
Harshkumar Patel and Steve Shand, convicted for their roles in the smuggling operation, were found guilty of charges related to facilitating illegal border crossings and profiting from the scheme. The prosecution argued that the duo conspired to bring Indian migrants into Canada under false pretenses before abandoning them at the border. Harshkumar Patel received a prison sentence of over 10 years, while Shand was sentenced to six and a half years, with both filing appeals against their convictions and sentences.