Scam Exposed After Japan Deportation
GUJRANWALA: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested 22 Pakistani nationals involved in a human trafficking scam disguised as a professional football team, after Japanese immigration authorities exposed the fraud and deported them back to Pakistan.
The individuals had entered Japan wearing football kits and claimed affiliation with the Pakistan Football Federation. They told authorities they were scheduled to play friendly matches against Japanese clubs. However, immigration officials in Japan, suspicious of their claims and documents, launched an investigation and discovered that the entire setup was fabricated.
Upon their return, the FIA launched a thorough investigation, quickly identifying and arresting the main suspect, Malik Waqas, who operated under the banner of a bogus football club named Golden Football Trial. According to FIA sources, Waqas charged each individual Rs4 million, promising them legal entry into Japan disguised as athletes. The total amount collected is estimated to be over Rs88 million.
Human Trafficking Network Under Probe
Waqas, currently under interrogation, confessed to previously sending 17 individuals to Japan using the same fraudulent strategy in January 2024. The FIA has also arrested another key player, Ali, as part of its crackdown led by the Composite Circle Gujranwala.
An FIA spokesperson confirmed that forged documents and fake registrations were used to create the illusion of a legitimate football team. The suspects were even trained to behave like professional athletes to avoid detection.
The agency has registered a formal case and is actively pursuing other facilitators involved in the network. This development comes as Pakistan intensifies efforts to combat human trafficking, which remains a pressing issue for the country.
The UN in Pakistan recently launched the Pakistan United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM), aimed at improving migration governance and cracking down on human trafficking in line with global frameworks.
