LAHORE: Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Multan Zone on Tuesday claimed to have arrested seven suspects in a series of operations across south Punjab over allegations of human smuggling, visa fraud and embezzlement.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the operations were carried out in Multan, Lodhran, Dera Ghazi Khan and Bahawalpur under directives of Director General Dr Usman Anwar and Multan Zone Director Hammadur Rehman as part of an ongoing crackdown on proclaimed offenders and organised crime.

FIA Multan Anti-Human Smuggling Circle conducted a raid and arrested a suspect, Shahbaz, from Lodhran, who was allegedly involved in human smuggling and receiving Rs850,000 to provide a work visa for Saudi Arabia.

In another raid, a suspect, Ubaidur Rehman, was also arrested from Lodhran, who was involved in receiving Rs900,000 for a work visa to Malaysia.

In another raid in DG Khan, the team arrested a suspect, Tariq, who was involved in Taking Rs1000,000 from a person for a work visa to Saudi Arabia.

In Bahawalpur, the team arrested Riaz Saeedi, who was allegedly involved in taking Rs1750,000 from a person for visa for Umrah.

These suspects were allegedly involved in defrauding citizens by promising overseas employment or religious travel visas.

Officials said the suspects collectively extorted over Rs4.5 million from different victims on the pretext of arranging visas for Saudi Arabia, Malaysia and Umrah, but failed to deliver.

Cases have already been registered against the suspects and further investigations are underway.

In another operation, the FIA Multan Composite Circle arrested a proclaimed offender, Yaseen, wanted in a long-standing case related to the alleged embezzlement of Rs9.7m in the OGDCL Dhodak power plant scandal.

Separately, two more suspects – Sohaib and Usman – were held in Multan for their alleged involvement in copyright infringement.

An FIA spokesperson stated that counterfeit products of a soap brand were recovered from their possession, and a case is being registered.

The spokesperson said raids are continuing to apprehend other suspects involved in similar offences.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2026