ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested three alleged human traffickers from outside the US embassy in the federal capital on Monday, FIA sources said.

Officials acted on intelligence-based information and arrested three suspected human smugglers, namely Adnan Shahid, Nadeem Bhatti and Dil Avez, they said.

However, a fourth suspect named Kashif Gill managed to flee the scene.

FIA Director Inam Ghani confirmed the arrests and told DawnNews that the accused used to prepare fake documents in the name of a bogus California-based company called North Star.

They used to create false travel documents presenting people as students going on a cultural exchange programme, who after entering the US never returned, Ghani said.

“They have sent a large number of such fake students to the US, even today they were attempting to get the documents cleared for 30 more ‘students’,” said the FIA official.

“We nabbed them when they were busy submitting applications for US visas on fake papers at the US embassy.”

During initial probe, the suspects admitted to taking US $5,500 as advance from their clients, while another $4,000 were charged after successful entry in the US, said Ghani.

A case has been lodged under the Anti-Terrorism Act after the accused were formally arrested as investigations continue.