FIA arrests 17 human traffickers

LAHORE: At least 17 human traffickers, including 10 most-wanted proclaimed offenders, were arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) during a grand operation in Lahore, Faisalabad, Jhang and Sialkot on Monday. Cases have also been registered against them.

FIA Human Trafficking Circle Deputy Director Jamil Ahmed Khan said the suspects deprived people of huge amounts of money on the pretext of sending them to Europe or to Iran on religious tours.

Khan added that the accused sent people to Turkey and Europe via Iran. Some of them used to send people to Greece and South Africa on fake visas. The smugglers used to take Rs1.5 million from each person and send them to Greece and South Africa.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 28^th, 2019.