RAWALPINDI:
The Immigration and Anti-Human Smuggling Cells of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday claimed to have arrested four suspects in two separate operations for attempting to travel abroad through illegal means, including the use of forged documents, fake residence cards and other channels of migrant smuggling.
Investigations have been initiated against all four people.
According to officials, two members of an organized visa fraud and migrant smuggling network were apprehended after being identified by the US Embassy.
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FIA immigration officers at Islamabad International Airport detained and detained two outbound passengers – Hasnain Azhar and Muhammad Atif – for attempting to travel abroad using fraudulent documentation.
Azhar allegedly sought to enter Portugal on a fake Portuguese residence card, while Atif was allegedly in contact with agents for illegal entry into Europe.
Both the men have been transferred to the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Islamabad for further action and identification of their agents, where investigations are still ongoing.
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 overcharging citizens and trying to send at least 12 people to the United States through false documents.
Officials said the arrests were made following a tip from the US Embassy. Further investigations have begun while raids are underway to arrest two more accomplices.
