Arrest at Jinnah International Airport
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a passenger arriving from Cambodia at Jinnah International Airport, Karachi, uncovering a migrant smuggling and international fraud network with links to Southeast Asia. According to an FIA statement issued on Saturday, the suspect was taken into custody during a major operation conducted by the agency’s immigration wing.
Links to Cambodia-Based Fraud Operations
Initial investigations revealed that the suspect was actively involved in organised migrant smuggling and online fraud activities operating out of Cambodia. The FIA said the individual had travelled from Pakistan to Cambodia in September 2024, where he began working for an online fraud company.
Recruitment of Pakistanis Under False Pretences
The investigation further disclosed that the suspect later started recruiting individuals from Pakistan as agents. These individuals were allegedly lured to Cambodia under false promises of legitimate employment, while in reality being drawn into fraudulent operations and illegal activities.
Digital and Financial Evidence Recovered
During forensic analysis of the suspect’s mobile phone, FIA investigators recovered passport photographs of multiple individuals, along with payment receipts and detailed financial transaction records. The evidence suggested a well-organised operation involving the movement of people and money across borders.
Use of Banks and Cryptocurrency Channels
The FIA revealed that the suspect received funds through personal bank accounts as well as cryptocurrency wallets, indicating the use of multiple channels to transfer illicit proceeds. Investigators believe this method was used to conceal the origin of the funds and avoid detection.
Further Legal Action Underway
Following his arrest, the suspect was handed over to the FIA’s Anti-Human Smuggling Circle in Karachi for further legal proceedings. The agency said investigations are ongoing to identify other members of the network, facilitators, and potential victims.
Crackdown After Greece Boat Tragedy
The arrest comes amid a nationwide crackdown on human smuggling launched after a tragic incident in December last year, when a boat carrying illegal immigrants capsized near Greece. More than 80 Pakistanis drowned, while 36 were rescued, with the remaining passengers presumed dead.
Action Against Corruption Within FIA
In January, the FIA dismissed and booked over 30 of its own officers for allegedly colluding with human smugglers in illegally sending Pakistanis abroad. The internal purge was part of broader reforms ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who directed authorities to take strict action against smugglers and officials aiding them.
Arrests Across the Country
Since the launch of the crackdown, dozens of suspects have been arrested nationwide. FIA Lahore alone arrested 177 human smugglers in the months following the tragedy, reflecting the scale of the operation.
Global Scale of Human Smuggling
According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), an estimated 2.5 million people are smuggled worldwide each year, highlighting the global reach of human trafficking and migrant smuggling networks.
