ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Interior and Narcotics Control Tallal Chaudhry told the National Assembly on Friday that strict action was being taken against human smuggling networks operating within and outside the country.

Responding to a calling-attention notice regarding Pakistani citizens detained in Cambodia in alleged cybercrime and scam-related cases after falling victim to fraudulent job schemes, the minister said that since June 2023 around 3,158 agents involved in facilitating illegal immigration had been arrested.

He said assets worth millions of rupees belonging to the agents had been seized, with bank accounts containing large sums being frozen.

He said accountability measures had also been taken within the Federal Investigation Agency, where some officials were found to have assisted such networks. In several cases, entire shifts were removed following investigations.

Over 15,000 Pakistanis in Cambodia targeted by fake online job scams

According to the minister, more than 100 FIA officials have faced disciplinary action, including criminal proceedings and convictions, over their alleged involvement in human smuggling.

He said the ongoing crackdown aimed to dismantle organised networks exploiting citizens through illegal migration routes and fake travel arrangements.

The minister said passengers travelling abroad, even with valid passports and visas, were at times subjected to additional profiling and screening to prevent misuse of legal travel channels.

He explained the system helped identify high-risk travel patterns linked to smuggling networks, though it had also resulted in complaints from passengers who were offloaded despite possessing complete travel documents.

Strengthened monitoring had reduced illegal migration attempts by an estimated 47 per cent, he claimed. He made it clear the purpose of the system was not to stop genuine travellers but to disrupt human smuggling networks.

Special focus had been placed on routes leading to Cambodia, where many Pakistanis were reportedly trapped in fake job schemes and later faced detention or legal action, he explained.

According to him, such cases increased during 2024 and 2025, prom­pting stricter enforcement measures.

Providing details, he said the FIA had conducted 286 inquiries related to Cambodia, leading to 111 criminal cases. Profiling systems were developed to identify passengers using suspicious travel routes linked to illegal migration, he said.

Till date, he added, 222 passengers were offloaded at airports as a preventive measure.

Around 15,000 Pakistanis were currently in Cambodia, many of whom had been misled by online job scams, he disclosed.

He said the Cambodian authorities also tightened regulations in response to the situation.

Around $1 million in fines im­­posed on 1,272 affected Pakistanis had been waived through coordinated efforts, while emergency tra­vel documents and passports were issued to facilitate their return.

These included 631 emergency travel documents, 112 new passports and 75 renewed passports.

Four deaths

He confirmed that four Pakistani nationals had died in Cambodia and their bodies had been repatriated.

The minister said the trafficking route involved complex networks operating through countries including Thailand, Malaysia and Myan­mar before reaching Cambodia.

He added that awareness campaigns by the FIA and advi-sories issued by the foreign ministry were continuing, but many citizens still fell victim to agents and online fraud.

He said a large number of affected Pakistanis had already been safely repatriated through coordinated rescue efforts.

Published in Dawn, May 23rd, 2026