ISLAMABAD: In a series of coordinated operations across Pakistan, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested 10 individuals linked to human trafficking, visa fraud, and illegal currency exchange activities.
The action, which targeted criminal networks across multiple regions, was carried out under the directives of FIA Director General Rafat Mukhtar Raja, as part of the agency’s ongoing efforts to dismantle smuggling and financial crime operations.
The FIA Multan Zone successfully apprehended three individuals, including Feroze Qaiser Sagu, a notorious human smuggler, and two accomplices, Muhammad Azam and Muhammad Wazir.
According to the FIA, the trio was involved in defrauding citizens by promising them overseas employment opportunities and collecting large sums of money without delivering on their promises.
Feroze Qaiser Sagu, arrested in Khanewal, is reported to have been involved in at least nine cases registered in the Multan Zone and additional charges in Faisalabad. He allegedly scammed victims out of over Rs. 8.2 million, offering fake job placements in Dubai and Saudi Arabia.
Muhammad Azam is accused of taking Rs. 600,000 from a citizen under the false promise of securing employment in Azerbaijan, while Muhammad Wazir allegedly extorted Rs. 2.36 million for non-existent jobs in the UAE.
In another phase of the operation, the FIA Lahore Zone conducted raids in Lahore and Islamabad, apprehending Naveed Tahir and Zubair Muhammad for visa fraud.
Naveed Tahir allegedly extorted Rs1.68 million from a citizen by promising a job in Lithuania, while Zubair Muhammad is accused of swindling Rs700,000 with false promises of securing a US visa. Both suspects had gone into hiding after failing to provide the promised visas but were eventually apprehended.
Additionally, in a major operation in Balochistan, the FIA Balochistan Zone arrested five individuals involved in illegal currency exchange and Hawala/Hundi operations in Quetta and Chaman.
The arrested suspects, Akmal Khan, Saifullah, Basheer Ahmed, Abdul Qayoom, and Abdullah, were engaged in unauthorized financial transactions, a practice that poses significant risks to the country’s financial integrity.
The FIA spokesperson confirmed that further investigations are underway, and additional arrests are expected as the agency continues to target human trafficking and financial crime networks. The agency is also working to trace other facilitators involved in the schemes and bring them to justice.
