Islamabad: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) successfully thwarted a human trafficking attempt at Islamabad International Airport, where 13 passengers and their facilitator were arrested while attempting to travel to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas. The group was apprehended during routine immigration checks, revealing a planned illegal journey to Libya and Italy.
An FIA spokesperson stated that the suspects, intending to reach Libya via Saudi Arabia, were offloaded from a Saudi-bound flight after suspicions arose during routine questioning. Investigations revealed evidence on their mobile phones indicating contact with agents orchestrating the human trafficking operation.
The accused, identified as Ehtesham, Adil, Shehryar, Ali Hamza, Murad, Suleman, Hayatullah, Bilal, Sakhawat, Waseem Abbas, Shehzad, Aamir Sohail, Waqif Khan, and their facilitator, Asad Iqbal, hail from Peshawar, Attock, and Sialkot. They were reportedly linked to a primary agent, Sameer Qayum, based in Libya.
Further investigation revealed that the passengers had paid substantial amounts to agents for illegal entry into Italy via Libya. The group has since been transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Islamabad, where legal proceedings are underway.
The FIA continues to intensify its efforts to combat human trafficking and illegal migration attempts, particularly those disguised under religious or legitimate travel purposes.
