The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Rawalpindi’s anti-human trafficking unit has successfully dismantled a syndicate of human traffickers who deceived more than 350 individuals by promising them employment abroad.
According to an FIA spokesperson, two suspects have been arrested, and an employee of the Greek Embassy is also implicated in the scheme. Authorities are conducting raids to apprehend the embassy employee involved.
Acting on directives from Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, the FIA’s anti-trafficking division has intensified its efforts to crack down on human trafficking networks. Reports had surfaced of organized gangs duping hundreds of unsuspecting citizens out of millions of rupees through fraudulent visa promises.
Responding to these reports, the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Rawalpindi identified and located the group responsible for defrauding citizens with false promises of employment in Greece. The investigation revealed the involvement of Tariq Rafiq, an official from the Greek Embassy in Islamabad. Following the inquiry, the FIA conducted raids in Islamabad, leading to the arrest of Ghulam Murtaza and Anjum Javed.
Officials disclosed that the accused had extracted more than Rs78 million from over 350 victims by offering fake visas in exchange for substantial sums of money. These visas were purportedly for job opportunities in Greece, after which the perpetrators went into hiding.
The FIA has filed a case against the group, which includes allegations against Tariq Rafiq for supplying counterfeit Greek visa stickers to his accomplices. Raids are ongoing to apprehend the embassy employee, and investigations are underway with the arrested suspects.
This operation underscores the FIA’s commitment to combating human trafficking and visa fraud, ensuring that all involved parties face legal consequences.
