FIA foils attempted illicit travel to Italy

Two Pakistanis trying to board flight on forged papers held

QUETTA:

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) apprehended two Pakistani nationals attempting to illegally travel to Italy on Thursday.

Both individuals, identified as Farhan Ahmed from Gujranwala and Parvez Muhammad from Sheikhupura, were arrested at Quetta International Airport before boarding Fly Dubai Flight FZ346.

According to an FIA spokesman, the accused presented a fake resident address of Italy in their attempt to leave for the country and ultimately reach Dubai from Quetta. Following their apprehension, Farhan Ahmed and Parvez Muhammad were taken to the FIA office in Quetta for further investigation.

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In the initial inquiry, the accused admitted to paying Rs3.7 million for forged travel documents, facilitating their journey to Dubai and Italy.

Human trafficking agents were revealed to be the source of these falsified documents. The FIA spokesman mentioned ongoing efforts, including raids, to apprehend individuals involved in human trafficking across Balochistan and other parts of the country.

The FIA representative urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities, emphasizing the importance of collective efforts to safeguard national security.

Thousands cross the porous Pak-Iran border annually, but a significant number gets caught in Iran and Turkey. Air travel is less common for illegal immigrants, with most opting for land routes to reach their destinations, especially in Europe.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 29^th, 2023.