An illegal alien from India with a significant criminal history has been arrested for trafficking millions of dollars worth of drugs in Florida, federal authorities tell Border Hawk.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) encountered Dipakkumar Ghelani on April 16 at the Duval County Pre-Trial Detention Facility.
Florida Highway Patrol arrested Ghelani on a felony warrant for trafficking drugs with an estimated street value of over $13 million.
Ghelani entered the U.S. in 2016 on a B-2 nonimmigrant visa that was valid until May 23, 2019, but overstayed his visa and apparently never left the country.
During an interview with an immigration officer, he was unable to provide documentation proving his legal presence in the U.S.
“Ghelani’s arrest shows how valuable our 287(g) partnerships are,” said ICE Director Todd M. Lyons.
“The Florida Highway Patrol has consistently proven to be a reliable partner in supporting ICE’s efforts to arrest potentially dangerous criminal illegal aliens like Ghelani, who’s been convicted of providing alcohol to a child and arrested for felony possession of money from selling drugs, being a fugitive from justice, and drug trafficking.”
ICE has lodged a detainer against Ghelani, who will face immigration proceedings in addition to his pending charges.
Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, law enforcement agencies across Florida have signed more than 330 partnership agreements with ICE under the 287(g) program — more than 40 other U.S. states and territories combined.
