ISLAMABAD – In a sweeping crackdown on illegal currency operations, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has seized foreign and local currencies during targeted raids across the country. Acting on the directives of FIA Director General Rafat Mukhtar Raja, the agency arrested several suspects in Quetta, Chaman, Lahore, Islamabad, and Multan.
In Quetta and Chaman, five individuals involved in illegal Hawala/Hundi networks were arrested. Authorities confiscated:
$700 USD
Rs. 684,000 PKR
230.5 million Iranian Rials
135,000+ Afghan Afghanis
200 Saudi Riyals
150 Australian Dollars
Bank slips, cheque books, and receipts connected to unlicensed money transfers were also seized during the raids.
Meanwhile, in Multan Zone, FIA arrested three individuals linked to human trafficking and visa fraud. One suspect had allegedly scammed people out of Rs. 8.2 million by promising fake jobs in Dubai and Saudi Arabia. Two others were caught for defrauding job seekers for Azerbaijan and UAE.
In Lahore and Islamabad, two suspects were arrested for selling fake visas, including false job offers for Lithuania and the United States, extracting over Rs. 2.3 million in total.
All suspects are currently in custody and investigations are underway.
