FIA foils illegal migration attempt, arrests two traffickers, 16 migrants

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two suspected human traffickers and taken 16 people into custody while foiling an attempt at illegal migration to Europe through Iran and Iraq, the agency said on Friday.

According to an FIA press release, the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) Karachi carried out a coordinated crackdown at multiple locations across Karachi and Balochistan on the instructions of the Director FIA DKZ.

During the operation, FIA officials arrested two suspected human trafficking agents, identified as Baber Shahzad and Muhammad Imtiaz Malik.

The agency also took 16 prospective migrants into custody who were allegedly attempting to reach Europe through unauthorised land routes via Iran and Iraq, commonly known as the “Dunki” route.

Initial investigations suggested that the suspects had arranged travel and other logistical support for the migrants in exchange for substantial sums of money, exposing them to serious risks while crossing borders through illegal routes, the FIA said.

Legal proceedings have been initiated against the arrested suspects under the relevant provisions of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act and other applicable laws, the agency added.

Further investigations are under way to identify other members of the suspected trafficking network and dismantle the wider syndicate.

Last month, the FIA Anti-Corruption Cell arrested three suspects, including a Chinese national and two officials, over their alleged involvement in a network facilitating immigration clearance for foreign nationals in exchange for bribes.

The FIA registered a first information report (FIR) after foreign nationals allegedly disclosed a network involving officials of the Immigration and Passports Department (IMPASS), Islamabad Police’s Special Protection Unit (SPU) and other individuals who were allegedly facilitating immigration clearance in return for illegal payments.

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According to the FIR, Chinese national Xiao Jingping, also known as Jack or Jason, allegedly disclosed that Junaid Mughal of IMPASS, in connivance with Zafar Iqbal, a constable of the Islamabad Police’s SPU, and others, facilitated immigration clearance for Rs80,000 per passenger.

The FIR also alleged that foreign nationals were making regular monthly payments as protection money to officials of the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) in Islamabad.