KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Karachi has dismantled a sophisticated organized network involved in human trafficking and document forgery, officials announced on Friday.
The Crackdown
During a press conference, Deputy Director FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, Mian Mohammad Ajmal, revealed that five suspects have been arrested, while raids are ongoing to apprehend four other members of the gang. The group had reportedly been operating a “mini-factory” for forged documents in Karachi for the past 10 years.
Key Recoveries
The FIA recovered a total of 101 passports, which included Indian and Afghan passports (specifically one belonging to an Indian woman residing in Canada seeking asylum). Authorities also seized visa stamps from over 40 countries along with specialized machinery, rubber stamps, and “inkless” embossing tools for forging official seals. Furthermore, advanced lighting equipment used to inspect and alter passport pages to remove evidence of previous visa rejections was taken into custody.
How the Network was Exposed
The investigation began at Jinnah International Airport when FIA Immigration offloaded two passengers, Taimoor Ahmed and Syed Aman, who were attempting to travel to South Korea on suspicious documents. A forensic analysis of their mobile phones uncovered WhatsApp chats and financial transactions confirming illegal immigration deals. This led to the arrest of the primary agent, Asif-ur-Rehman, and subsequently, other key members.
The Scale of Operation
Raids conducted on the hideouts of suspects Imran Khan and Aslam Khan yielded the bulk of the recovered passports. According to the FIA, the gang specialized in creating fake travel histories for citizens. Preliminary investigations suggest they have successfully sent hundreds of people abroad through fraudulent means over the last decade.
Legal Action
A case has been registered against the suspects under the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act 2018 and other relevant sections of the Pakistan Penal Code. Further investigations are underway to trace the international links of this network.
