RAWALPINDI:
The immigration and anti-human trafficking cells of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed on Sunday to have arrested four suspects in two separate operations for attempting to travel abroad through illegal means, including the use of fake documents, fake residence cards and other migrant smuggling channels.
Investigations were opened against the four individuals.
Officials say two members of an organized visa fraud and migrant smuggling ring were apprehended following identification from the U.S. Embassy.
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FIA immigration officers at the Islamabad International Airport landed and arrested two outgoing passengers – Hasnain Azhar and Muhammad Atif – for attempting to travel abroad using fraudulent documents.
Azhar allegedly sought to enter Portugal with a fake Portuguese resident card, while Atif was allegedly in contact with agents to enter Europe illegally.
The two men were transferred to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Islamabad for further action and identification of their operatives, where investigations are continuing.
Separately, the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle arrested two more suspects – Tahir Shehbaz and Rab Nawaz – from Islamabad for their alleged role in visa fraud and migrant smuggling.
The suspects are accused of charging large sums of money to citizens and attempting to send at least 12 people to the United States using false documents.
Authorities said the arrests were made following information provided by the U.S. Embassy. Additional investigations have been opened, while searches are underway to apprehend two other accomplices.
