KARACHI (Dunya News) – The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested seven suspects during a major operation against an alleged human smuggling network in Karachi, officials said on Monday.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the raid was carried out by the Anti Human Trafficking Circle under the directives of the FIA Karachi Zone director. The operation took place in North Nazimabad, where the suspects were allegedly operating offices under different names.
Investigators said the group is suspected of deceiving people by promising employment opportunities and visas for European countries while collecting large sums of money from applicants.
During the raid, FIA officials recovered hundreds of Pakistani passports, firearms, alleged fake police uniforms, laptops, and other items that investigators described as potential evidence. Authorities said the suspects were operating from a rented building allegedly used as the network's office.
Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects allegedly charged victims between Rs800,000 and Rs1 million each on the promise of overseas jobs and visas. According to the FIA, many applicants neither received visas nor recovered their money.
The agency further alleged that when victims demanded refunds or updates on their applications, some members of the group, allegedly wearing fake police uniforms, intimidated and threatened them.
The FIA said 52 alleged victims have so far been identified, while efforts are continuing to trace additional complainants and gather further evidence.
Investigators believe the network may have been involved in human smuggling and financial fraud for the past five years, though the allegations remain under investigation.
The FIA said the investigation has been expanded to identify and arrest additional suspected facilitators and to examine the group's financial transactions. No court has yet ruled on the allegations, and the investigation remains ongoing.