Federal Jury Convicts Men in Human Smuggling Operation Following Deaths of Indian Nationals near Canadian Border

In connection with the deaths of four Indian nationals whose frozen remains were discovered close to the Canadian border earlier this year, a federal jury found two men guilty of human smuggling. U.S. Attorney Andrew M. Luger characterized the verdict as justice for the traffickers’ unconscionable brutality and neglect in a case that underscores the sobering facts and dangers of human trafficking.

Steve Anthony Shand, 50, and Harshkumar Ramanlal Patel, 29, also referred to as “Dirty Harry” or “Harry Patel,” had been implicated in a broader scheme that smuggled people into the US from India. Indian nationals were brought into Canada on student visas and then forcibly moved over the border as part of their operation. In an article published by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Minnesota, Luger said, “This trial exposed the unthinkable cruelty of human smuggling and the lengths that traffickers will go to maximize profit.”

The trial’s evidence described the migrants’ arduous trip, during which they attempted to enter the United States while facing cold conditions. A family of four, including two small children, met a horrible end in January 2022 when their bodies were found just inside the Canadian border. When a backpack containing children’s clothing, a diaper, toys, and some medication was discovered with the group, it brought the human cost of smuggling operations like this into sharp focus.

“These partnerships are vital in our fight against human smuggling,” said Jamie Holt, special agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) St. Paul. Holt stressed the need of working together to break up human smuggling networks and stop tragedies in the future. The indictment of Patel and Shand is a sobering reminder of the frequently fatal outcomes that can result from human trafficking operations. Just south of the Canadian border, Shand was caught driving a white fifteen-passenger van. This was only a small part of a much longer, tumultuous journey.

USBP and HSI were identified as the main players in the investigation, and the convictions reflect the combined efforts of several agencies. The case was prosecuted by Department of Justice Human Rights and Special Prosecutions Trial Attorney Ryan Lipes and Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael McBride, and it ended with a five-day trial before Judge John R. Tunheim. Following the verdict, Chief Patrol Agent Scott D. Garrett issued a sobering warning, emphasizing the dangerous nature of such undertakings by saying that individuals who entrust their lives to smugglers risk everything.

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