LAHORE, Oct 12: The Federal Investigation Agency claimed on Thursday to have arrested six human smugglers and recovered 118 foreign and Pakistani forged passports, 88 visa stickers and stamps from their possession.

FIA deputy director (passport circle) Azhar Mahmood said the agency was alerted by the Interpol that some 900 UK stickers had been stolen from its Moscow embassy a couple of months ago.

Following a tip off, he said an FIA team arrested Amir Sohail Butt, Shafiq, Mujahid, Omar, Farooq and Amanat from different parts of the province and recovered 88 visit visa stickers of Germany, UK, Spain, France and Canada, 118 foreign and Pakistani passports and 20 stamps of different embassies.

During interrogation, Mr Azhar said that Amir, the main culprit, revealed that he had purchased the stickers from one Riaz who operated from the UK. He confessed to have sold 70 stickers here against 1,000 pounds each. He said the agency would ask the UK government for the arrest of Riaz.

He said it was a big achievement of the agency as to track down people involved in stolen stickers was not an easy task. He said five more people were involved in the business and would soon be arrested.