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FAISALABAD, Nov 25 (APP):Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Faisalabad has arrested two human traffickers during major operation against a network involved in human smuggling and forced beggary abroad.
FIA sources said that FIA Composite Circle Faisalabad conducted targeted actions across different areas of the city and apprehended Muhammad Ismail and Salman Manawar on charges of trafficking innocent citizens and forcing them into beggary overseas.
The officials said a formal case had been registered on the basis of a report received from the Pakistan High Commission in Kuala Lumpur, which highlighted the exploitation of Pakistani nationals in Malaysia.
The investigators revealed that arrested suspect Muhammad Ismail in collaboration with his accomplices lured citizens with promises of lucrative employment and sent them to Malaysia where they were coerced into begging.
The accused allegedly trapped a victim Khalid Mahmood by offering a false job opportunity and later cancelled his return ticket to keep him stranded without support.
The victim was eventually found unconscious in a hotel room and shifted to a hospital, but later died due to the ordeal.
The FIA team acted promptly to trace and arrest the accused while raids are underway to capture remaining members of the network. Authorities have also initiated the process of placing their names on the stop list.
Meanwhile, the second arrested suspect Salman Manawar was found operating an illegal travel agency without any license. The raid led to the recovery of agreements, mobile phones and stamp papers used in fraudulent activities.
The officials said that the accused had been collecting large sums of money from citizens by offering unlawful pathways for overseas travel.
Both accused have been taken into custody and a formal investigation has started and more arrests are expected as the crackdown on human trafficking and forced beggary networks continues, the official added.