In a nationwide operation targeting illegal money exchange and human smuggling, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested multiple individuals and seized foreign currencies including $700 USD, Iranian Rials, Afghan Afghanis, and Pakistani Rupees.
Five arrests were made in Quetta and Chaman, where suspects were running unauthorized Hawala/Hundi networks. FIA also seized:
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Rs. 684,000 in local currency
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230.5 million Iranian Rials
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Over 135,000 Afghanis
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200 Saudi Riyals
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150 Australian Dollars
Authorities also confiscated documentation tied to unregulated money transfers.
Additionally, in Multan, three suspects were arrested in a human trafficking ring. One accused defrauded citizens of Rs. 8.2 million with fake promises of overseas jobs. Others scammed individuals by offering fake job placements in Azerbaijan and UAE, collecting over Rs. 2.3 million.
In Lahore and Islamabad, two more suspects were apprehended for offering fake job visas for Lithuania and the US, deceiving victims out of large sums.
The FIA has confirmed that all arrests have been made under the direction of DG Rafat Mukhtar Raja, with further investigations ongoing.