FIA cracks down on human smugglers, arrests suspects

Islamabad:In a major crackdown against human trafficking and illegal financial transactions, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested multiple individuals involved in organised crimes, including a notorious human smuggler linked to the Greece boat tragedy, officials confirmed on Thursday.

According to an FIA Headquarters spokesman, two key suspects—Ansar Mehmood and Muhammad Owais—were apprehended for their involvement in human smuggling operations. Ansar Mehmood, who was directly linked to the Greece boat incident, was arrested in Narowal, while Muhammad Owais was detained in Gujranwala. The FIA, exposing Human Trafficking ring, disclosed that investigations revealed that Ansar Mehmood was a key member of a human smuggling gang that had already been under surveillance. The suspect, along with his accomplices, allegedly extorted PKR 4.5 million from Ahsan Ali, a resident of Jalalpur Jattan, under the false promise of securing his passage to Europe. The victim was reportedly held in safe houses in Libya before being forced onto a boat to Greece. Tragically, Ahsan Ali lost his life in the Greece boat disaster.

Meanwhile, Muhammad Owais is accused of defrauding a complainant by promising employment in Canada and collecting PKR 5.137 million but failing to facilitate the promised migration. After receiving the money, Owais disappeared. Both suspects are now in FIA custody, and authorities are conducting further raids to dismantle the smuggling network.

In a parallel operation, FIA Faisalabad Zone successfully busted a ‘hawala/hundi’ network, arresting a suspect involved in illegal money transfers and money laundering. The arrested individual, Ghulam Murtaza, was taken into custody from College Road, Pakpattan. According to FIA officials, the suspect was involved in suspicious financial transactions worth over PKR 85 million. Upon questioning, he failed to provide any legal justification for these transactions.

Investigators believe that Murtaza's accomplices were operating from South Africa, transferring illicit funds through various bank accounts before laundering them through formal financial channels. A case has been registered, and further raids are being conducted to track down other members of the network.

Meanwhile, FIA Multan Zone’s Composite Circle in DG Khan carried out a successful operation against illegal currency businesses, arresting a key suspect engaged in ‘hawala/hundi’ transactions. Identified as Mohammad Irfan, the suspect was apprehended during a raid in Jampur and seized, Rs5.1 million in cash, mobile phones sets, Deposit boxes and detailed records of ‘hawala­/hundi’ transactions.

FIA sources confirmed that the suspect failed to explain the source of the recovered money. The operation was conducted based on intelligence reports, and investigations are ongoing to trace other members of the illegal financial network.

The spokesman said that the Interior Ministry has instructed law enforcement agencies to intensify efforts against human traffickers and financial criminals. The recent arrests and seizures highlight Pakistan’s commitment to dismantling organized criminal syndicates exploiting innocent individuals and engaging in illegal financial activities. Authorities have vowed to continue nationwide raids, ensuring that those involved in such crimes face full legal action.