Police escorted suspected illegal Afghan nationals during the government’s campaign to expel illegal aliens from Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS
TURBAT:
Authorities in Balochistan on Sunday foiled a major migrant smuggling attempt and detained 29 Afghan nationals during a joint operation by the police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Turbat district, officials confirmed.
According to the police, the operation was carried out on the outskirts of Turbat, where officers intercepted a Land Cruiser packed with people trying to cross the border illegally into Iran.
Among those arrested were 12 men, 13 children and 4 women, along with two drivers accused of facilitating illegal passage through remote desert routes.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Afghan nationals planned to enter Iran as part of a longer journey to Europe through smuggling networks. The detainees have been handed over to the FIA for further questioning, while a full-scale investigation has been launched to identify the network’s operators.
Officials said the scope of the investigation had been expanded and more arrests were expected in the coming days.
The incident comes as Pakistan faces growing battles with people-trafficking networks that have become increasingly active amid economic challenges and regional instability.
In September, the UN launched a network on migration in Pakistan to strengthen migration management and combat human trafficking.
A 2023 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the EU found that 24,000 Pakistanis had illegally entered EU countries over the past three years.
The report also noted a sharp increase in irregular migration attempts towards the UK, US and Australia, as smugglers exploit vulnerable populations with promises of employment and better living conditions abroad.
