ISLAMABAD: With an intensified drive to dismantle human smuggling and trafficking networks underway, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested 512 human smugglers and 34 human traffickers across the country during the month of August.
According to consolidated monthly crime data obtained from FIA’s Directorate of Anti-Human Smuggling, the arrested individuals included one most wanted trafficker listed in the red book.
The data shows the agency received 2,295 complaints related to human smuggling and trafficking during August, and registered 2,180 inquiries. Following scrutiny, 991 cases were registered, and challans in 355 cases were submitted to the courts.
Convictions were secured in 180 cases. Authorities also arrested 84 proclaimed offenders and three court absconders. A total of 18 red notices were issued to help arrest suspects who had fled abroad.
The FIA also sent 46 requests for mutual legal assistance related to money laundering and sought one extradition. During August, 15 court absconders were declared proclaimed offenders. The names of 13 individuals were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL), while 102 were added to the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).
An official said FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwer and Director of the Anti-Human Smuggling Unit Asmatullah Junejo have issued clear instructions to all Anti-Human Trafficking Circles across the country to make every effort to dismantle human trafficking networks.
“The FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circles have intensified operations against human smuggling and trafficking across the country. Figures for August 2026 provide a clear example of these efforts,” he said.
He further stated that the FIA regularly received referrals from international law enforcement agencies.
In August, it received 10 such referrals, and 12 cases were registered from among 117 pending referrals. Asmatullah Junejo explained that human trafficking and human smuggling were not the same.
“Human trafficking is a crime involving the recruitment, transportation, transfer, harbouring or receipt of people through force, fraud or deception with the purpose of exploitation of victims through forced labour, sexual exploitation or other forms of abuse.
“Migrant smuggling is the facilitation of irregular entry into a country where the person has no legal right to enter or remain,” he remarked.
Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2026
