LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has offloaded over 4,000 passengers at the Lahore airport because of fake, suspicious or incomplete travel record since this January.

According to the FIA, 14 passengers have been arrested for using fraudulent documents. Some75 passengers involved in beggary have also been apprehended.

The arrested ones were handed over to the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Lahore for further investigation.

It said some 14 fugitives wanted by the Punjab police were stopped from fleeing abroad as they were wanted in serious criminal cases. They were later handed over to Punjab Police authorities.

The FIA said the crackdown on human traffickers has been intensified and strict passenger screening continued at airports.

Published in Dawn, March 20th, 2025