FIA apprehends alleged ringleader in Rs250 million Times Immigration scam

RAWALPINDI: The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle (AHTC) has arrested the individual suspected of masterminding the notorious ‘Times Immigration fraud case’, which officials say defrauded thousands of citizens out of approximately Rs250 million.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the suspect, identified as M. Jahanzaib and also known by the alias Junaid Butt, was taken into custody in Lahore following a sustained intelligence-based operation conducted by the AHTC. The operation targeted what is believed to be one of the largest immigration scams in Islamabad’s history.

The FIA alleges that the accused orchestrated a scheme that promised potential victims immigrant, student, and family visas for travel abroad. The fraudulent operation was run from multiple offices, including those located in Islamabad’s G-11 Markaz, Rawalpindi’s Giga Mall, and Lahore’s Liberty Market. Investigators have also uncovered operational links to the United Arab Emirates.

During the course of the investigation, FIA teams traced several bank accounts associated with the Times Immigration Company. These accounts revealed complex financial transactions, raising suspicions of money laundering and other related financial crimes.

The FIA spokesperson stated that the agency is continuing its probe into the financial networks connected to the scam, with further arrests and recoveries anticipated as the investigation progresses.

The Times Immigration fraud case has drawn significant attention due to the scale of the alleged deception and the number of people affected. Authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant when dealing with immigration consultants and to verify the legitimacy of such firms before engaging their services.