GUJRAT/LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Gujranwala Zone, intensified its crackdown on illegal overseas employment, human smuggling and visa fraud networks across the region.

In continuation of ongoing operations, an FIA team raided Travel Mark-1 Agency and “Best Foreigners Study” Consultancy, located at Baghbanpura Chowk, Gujranwala, and arrested both the owner and office manager for their involvement in an organised fraud network.

Deputy Director FIA Gujranwala circle Ghulam Sarwar Warraich said the arrested suspects included Chaudhry Shafaqat Ali (Owner/CEO) and Shahzad Yaqoob of Mubarik Colony, Mohallah Khalid Colony, Gujranwala (Office Manager). The arrests have been made in case No. 267/26, registered under Sections 17/22 of the Emigration Ordinance 1979 read with Section 6 of the Passport Act 1974 with FIA Gujranwala circle.

The suspects, he said, were operating travel and study consultancy businesses, and were actively involved in illegal human smuggling and visa fraud activities.

During the search in the offices, he said, at least 70 Pakistani passports were recovered as the suspects failed to provide any lawful justification for holding such a large number of passports.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the suspects, in connivance with each other and other agents, were involved in collecting large sums of money from innocent citizens and students offering fake promises of work visas, visit visas, and student visas operating under the guise of travel agency and study consultancy services.

A spokesman for FIA said significant quantity of documents, payment slips, application records, and other incriminating material was also recovered during the raid.

Evidence suggests that a large number of Pakistani citizens and students were defrauded, with their passports and money unlawfully retained.

Further investigation is underway to trace additional accomplices and dismantle the entire organised network.

Meanwhile, the FIA claimed on Saturday to have arrested two suspects allegedly involved in human smuggling and visa fraud in Multan and Lahore.

Agency’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Multan arrested Muhammad Yasir, who was wanted in three cases registered in 2026.

The suspect along with his accomplices is accused of collecting Rs1.936 million from complainants on the pretext of arranging employment visas for Saudi Arabia but fail to provide the promised documents.

In a separate raid conducted in Lahore, the FIA arrested another Muhammad Asif Javed, who was wanted in a 2025 case. He allegedly received Rs3.01 million from a complainant for securing a job visa for the United Kingdom but did not fulfill the commitment.

Published in Dawn, April 26th, 2026