FIA arrests 4 suspected human traffickers

ISLAMABAD: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has intensified its drive against human trafficking as four suspected human traffickers have been arrested.

The arrested accused are identified as Shehzad Ahmed, Mohsin, Muhammad Sharif and Azhar Naveed. They were apprehended from different areas of Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin.

Shehzad Ahmed was allegedly involved in illegally transporting a citizen to Italy. He sent the victim to Libya under the pretext of facilitating his travel to Europe and received more than Rs3.7 million from the victim. In collusion with his accomplices, he held the citizen hostage in Libya, where the victim was subjected to torture. The victim remains missing.

Accused Mohsin allegedly swindled Rs2.52 million by luring a citizen with a false promise of employment in Greece. He also affixed a fake Greek visa sticker on the victim’s passport.

Suspect Muhammad Sharif allegedly collected Rs359,000 from a citizen by offering fake employment in Oman.

Accused Azhar Naveed allegedly defrauded a citizen of Rs2.336 million on the pretext of sending him to Italy.

The accused reportedly failed to send the victims abroad and absconded after receiving the heavy amounts. All arrested suspects are now under investigation, while raids are under way to arrest their accomplices.