FIA Cracks Down on Human Trafficking with Arrest at US Consulate

Pakistan's FIA arrested Shakeel Rafiq in Karachi for using fake documents to enter the US. The forgery, linked to an agent named Sajjad, sought access via a cricket club. Ongoing investigations are focused on Sajjad, while previous operations nabbed five for currency crimes, seizing large sums of cash.

In a decisive move against human trafficking, Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has detained a suspect attempting to enter the United States with fraudulent documents. The individual, identified as Shakeel Rafiq from Lahore, was apprehended outside the US Consulate in Karachi, with the consulate itself raising the alarm, as reported by the Express Tribune.

An FIA spokesperson revealed that Rafiq had secured the counterfeit documents through an acquaintance, Sajjad, in exchange for 32,000 Emirati Dirhams. An upfront payment of PKR 450,000 was made, with the remaining amount promised upon visa acquisition. However, Rafiq's claim of cricket club affiliation and his failure to convincingly discuss the details aroused suspicion, leading to his arrest.

Ongoing investigations are targeting the apprehension of the agent involved. In parallel, law enforcement efforts have resulted in the detention of five individuals in Karachi for their involvement in money laundering. These operations, conducted by the FIA's State Bank Circle Karachi, culminated in the seizure of significant sums of both local and foreign currencies.

Authorities confiscated USD 4,500, GBP 20,000, and PKR 8,802,250 from the suspects, named as Waseem Akram, Mohammad Arsalan, Mohammad Shiraz, Mohammad Adil Shahid, and Majid Iqbal. FIA Director-General Ahmad Ishaq Jahangir underscored Pakistan's dedication to tackling organized crime, notably during his remarks at a UN conference, advocating for stronger measures against money laundering and human trafficking.

(With inputs from agencies.)