KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) apprehended four suspects at Karachi airport for allegedly engaging in human trafficking operations to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Saturday.
According to a statement from the FIA, the suspects who come from Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, and Gujranwala were arrested as they returned to Pakistan after serving their sentences in the UAE for illegal infringement, and were subsequently deported.
The FIA reported that the suspects returned using emergency travel documents. The FIA verified that the suspects are in the custody of its Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Karachi for prosecution.
Earlier in January, more than 30 FIA officials were suspended and charged with engaging in illegal migration. The crackdown started after a boat capsized off the coast of Greece in December last year, which was carrying undocumented migrants.
Over 80 Pakistanis died in the incident, with 36 rescued; the remainder are missing. In response to the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed authorities to take strict measures against traffickers and accomplices.
There has been a coordinated national response with multiple arrests. In Lahore, the FIA alone has arrested 177 people in the last three months concerning human trafficking.
