FIA busts human smuggling network in Gujranwala, seizes over 500 passports

The Federal Investigation Agency has unearthed a human smuggling network in Gujranwala division, arresting four suspects and recovering more than 500 Pakistani passports in their possession during a raid, 24NewsHD TV reported on Tuesday. 

According to officials, the operation, carried out in Hafizabad district, exposed a scheme in which citizens were lured with false promises of overseas employment and subsequently defrauded of large sums of money.

The officials identified the suspects as Haji Munawar Hussain, Muhammad Nawaz, Umar Khalid, and Fayyaz Zulfiqar.

The group was allegedly operating an unlicensed office and collecting passports and cash from citizens under the pretext of securing foreign visas.

During the raid, officials recovered 505 Pakistani passports from the suspects’ possession.

Investigators said the accused failed to provide any legal justification for holding such a large number of travel documents.

The seized passports and other evidence have been taken into custody, while a case has been registered against the suspects under the Immigration Ordinance 1979 and the Passport Act 1974.