Police escort suspected illegal Afghan nationals during the government’s campaign to expel illegal foreigners from Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS
TURBAT:
Authorities in Balochistan foiled a major migrant smuggling attempt on Sunday, arresting 29 Afghan nationals in a joint operation by the police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Turbat district, officials confirmed.
According to police, the operation was carried out on the outskirts of Turbat, where officers intercepted a Land Cruiser full of people trying to illegally cross the Iranian border.
Among those arrested were 12 men, 13 children and four women, as well as two drivers accused of facilitating illegal crossings across isolated desert roads.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Afghan nationals were planning to enter Iran as part of a longer journey to Europe via smuggling networks. The detainees were handed over to the FIA for further questioning, while a full-scale investigation was launched to identify members of the network.
Officials said the scope of the investigation has been expanded and more arrests are expected in the coming days.
The incident comes as Pakistan faces growing challenges against human trafficking networks, which have become increasingly active amid economic challenges and regional instability.
In September, the United Nations launched a Pakistan Migration Network to strengthen migration governance and combat trafficking.
A 2023 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union found that 24,000 Pakistanis had entered EU countries illegally in the past three years.
The report also notes a sharp increase in irregular migration attempts to the UK, US and Australia, as smugglers exploit vulnerable populations with promises of employment and better living conditions abroad.
