QUETTA: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested a notorious human smuggler along with several suspects involved in hawala and illegal currency exchange networks, in a raid conducted in Taftan.
FIA spokesperson told local media that FIA’s anti-human trafficking Circle in Taftan arrested Muhammad Adnan Aslam, a notorious human trafficker. Adnan is part of an organized trafficking gang operating from Iraq.
The arrested suspect was involved in smuggling Pakistani citizens to Iraq via illegal routes through Iran. The gang reportedly operates safe houses in Iraq where victims are held captive.
Evidence of human smuggling, including transaction records sent by victims’ families, was recovered from the suspect’s mobile phone. Details of other gang members have also been obtained, and raids are ongoing to arrest more suspects.
Separately, the FIA Commercial Banking Circle in Quetta cracked down on hawala and illegal currency exchange networks. Acting under the directives of DG FIA, Rafat Mukhtar Raja, the agency arrested three suspects Muhammad Umar, Lal Muhammad, and Abdul Wali linked to hawala and illegal currency dealings.
A total of 1.7 million Pakistani Rupees was seized during the operation.
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FIA team also recovered four mobile phones, messages, registers, and other evidence related to hawala operations from the possession of the arrested suspect. The suspects failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the source of the seized funds.
