The Indian Embassy in France has been granted consular access to its citizens who were on board a flight to Nicaragua and were detained by French authorities. The plane, carrying mostly Indian passengers, was stopped in France on December 21 due to suspicion of human trafficking. The Indian Embassy team has reached out to the passengers and is investigating the situation while ensuring their well-being. France's national anti-organized crime unit is leading the investigation, with two men currently in custody. The plane, operated by Legend Airlines, had to stop for refueling due to a technical problem in France. It is possible that the travelers, who were possibly employed in the United Arab Emirates, intended to travel to Central America before attempting unauthorized entry into the United States or Canada.
The passengers boarded the aircraft once it landed in France, but it was afterwards transported to the terminal building and given private rooms. The airport was completely surrounded by police barricades. The probe involves aviation gendarmes, border police, and specialised French organised crime units. Legend Airlines, the aircraft's owner, has stated that it is eager to work with French authorities, although its attorney has refuted any involvement in human trafficking. According to the attorney, the airline checks that the passengers' documents are in order, but it is unable to look up their criminal histories. The airline is losing money as a result of this tragedy, and its reputation is suffering. According to French legislation, border police can detain foreign nationals for a maximum of four days; in extraordinary cases, this can be extended to a maximum of 26 days. Human trafficking is punishable in France by up to 20 years in prison.
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