ISLAMABAD: As many as 125 proclaimed offenders and court absconders are among 413 human smugglers and traffickers arrested by the Federal Investigation Agency’s (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking Circles across the country in September. The arrests include 406 smugglers and seven traffickers, including one most-wanted individual.
The figure also includes 121 proclaimed offenders and four court absconders. According to FIA data for September, the circles significantly intensified operations nationwide to dismantle human trafficking networks.
These efforts resulted in receipt of 2,869 complaints and 2,459 inquiries, leading to registration of 1,044 cases and submission of challans in 443 cases. The operations culminated in 224 convictions. On border control, 575 individuals were placed on the Exit Control List (ECL) and 270 added to the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL).
The unit also handled five international law enforcement referrals, leading to registration of five new cases. At all Border Check Points, immigration staff amplified efforts to discourage illegal migration.
During the month, 70 individuals were offloaded at different airports and 4,076 individuals were deported from different countries, with 179 cases registered against those deportees found to be illegal or involved in criminal activities.
In comparison, the agency had arrested 512 human smugglers and 34 human traffickers in August, including one most-wanted trafficker listed in the red book, according to consolidated monthly crime data of the Directorate of Anti-Human Smuggling.
In August, the agency received 2,295 complaints and registered 2,180 inquiries, leading to registration of 991 cases and submission of challans in 355 cases, with convictions secured in 180 cases.
Authorities had arrested 84 proclaimed offenders and three court absconders, issued 18 red notices for suspects who fled abroad, sent 46 requests for mutual legal assistance related to money laundering, sought one extradition, declared 15 court absconders as proclaimed offenders, and placed 13 names on ECL and 102 on PNIL.
An official said FIA Director General Dr Usman Anwer and Director Anti-Human Smuggling Asmatullah Junejo had issued clear instructions to all anti-human trafficking circles to make every effort to dismantle human trafficking networks, adding that the figures for August and September provided a clear example of intensified operations and that the FIA regularly received referrals from international law enforcement agencies.
Published in Dawn, October 16th, 2026
