The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling Wing on Saturday arrested a notorious human trafficker who had long eluded the authorities.
The wing's Islamabad circle apprehended Khurram Iqbal from Rawalpindi.
Khurram Iqbal was involved in a web of crimes related to human trafficking and was included in the Red Book of most-wanted individuals.
He faced more than five cases of human trafficking and the authorities had launched over 11 ongoing inquiries into his illicit activities.
His modus operandi involved duping innocent victims by promising to facilitate their travel abroad. Under this pretence, he extorted significant sums of money from his victims.
Earlier this month, a sub-agent who was reportedly involved in people trafficking to Saudi Arabia for beggarly reasons on an Umrah visa was caught during a raid by the FIA.
The suspect instigated two persons Mujahid Iqbal and Tanveer Abbas for begging on Umrah visa.
During immigration, they revealed that they would beg there and half of the begged amount would be handed over to the sub-agents.
In June, an Italy-bound fishing trawler reportedly carrying at least 800 people — including approximately 350 Pakistanis — capsized off Greece.
The incident led to a day of mourning along with the launch of a nationwide crackdown on human smugglers with many subsequently arrested.
