U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service agents Hiplito Poli Acosta and A.J. Irwin led the takedown of the largest human smuggling operation in history. Prior to this case, the INS was a federal agency whose strategy was limited to going after smugglers within U.S. borders. But this changed with the undercover operation to capture Maan Singh.

Naranjan Maan Singh, known as the godfather of alien smuggling, was responsible for 75% of South Asians entering the U.S. illegally through its southern borders. In typical governmental bureaucracy, the intelligence community knew about the smuggler, but INS agents on the ground weren’t aware of his exploits. When the regional office learned about him, a plan was made to shut down the entire trafficking operation, from the coyotes at the bottom all the way to Maan Singh at the top.

Poli and A.J. risked their lives confronting thugs, corrupt police officers and hit men in this dangerous undercover operation that spanned the globe, from Qui