GWADAR: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested 14 people, including a foreign national, during operations in Gwadar, officials said Tuesday.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the Composite Circle Gwadar detained the suspects in separate actions. Those arrested included three residents of Gujranwala, three from Mandi Bahauddin, four from Sanghar, and three from Sheikhupura. Among them was one Iranian citizen.
Investigators revealed that nine of the suspects were attempting to leave Pakistan illegally by sea from Jiwani to reach Iran and onward destinations. Authorities apprehended them before they could cross.
The spokesperson added that another five individuals, including an Iranian national, were caught trying to enter Pakistan illegally through the PB-250 Gabd land route.
Also Read: FIA foils illegal sea crossing to Iran, arrests 60 suspects in Gwadar
FIA registered cases against all 14 suspects and placed them in custody for further investigation.
Last week, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Balochistan Zone foiled an attempt to illegally cross into Iran by sea and arrested 60 suspects.
According to an FIA spokesperson, nine of the detainees belong to Gujranwala, 19 to Malakand, and 16 to Bannu.
The spokesperson said nine others are from Lower Dir, three from Upper Dir, and two from Mardan. The arrests were made in Gwadar’s Jiwani area.
The suspects were attempting to travel illegally from Pakistan to Iran by sea. FIA has registered four cases against them and launched an investigation.
Human Trafficking via Iran
Pakistan remains both a source and transit country for human trafficking. Thousands of people, mainly from Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, attempt irregular migration each year in search of work in the Middle East and Europe.
Balochistan, with its long porous borders with Iran and Afghanistan and a vast coastline along the Arabian Sea, is a major route for human smuggling. The coastal towns of Gwadar, Jiwani, Pasni, and Ormara often serve as exit points where migrants are loaded onto boats bound for Iran or Oman. From there, many try to reach Turkey, Greece, and ultimately Europe.
Also Read: FIA Nabs Key Human Trafficker, Six Afghans in Quetta
Authorities, including the FIA’s Anti-Human Smuggling Wing, regularly carry out operations in Balochistan to curb these activities. However, poverty, unemployment, and demand for cheap labour abroad continue to fuel the trade, making it a persistent challenge.
