The Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Quetta has arrested a retired employee on charges of visa fraud and human smuggling, officials said on Saturday.
According to FIA sources, the suspect, identified as Muhammad Ismail, was taken into custody during an operation in Quetta. Authorities said the suspect used social media platforms to lure citizens with false promises of sending them abroad.
Investigators said Muhammad Ismail allegedly deceived a citizen by offering to arrange travel to Australia and collected a total of Rs5.5 million in multiple instalments. The suspect later provided the victim with a fake Australian e-visa, FIA officials added.
Following the arrest, FIA said a formal investigation has been launched to determine the full scope of the fraud and to identify other individuals involved in the network.
The agency said raids are currently underway to arrest accomplices linked to the human smuggling and visa fraud operation.