The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has exposed an international human trafficking network that allegedly sent women to Saudi Arabia under the guise of free Umrah trips and job offers, only to force them into organized begging once they arrived there.
According to details, a special operation conducted by the FIA Composite Circle Faisalabad led to the arrest of Muhammad Sharif, identified as the leader of the gang, upon his arrival at Faisalabad Airport from Saudi Arabia. Officials said the suspect had been on the agency’s radar for months after reports surfaced of women being exploited abroad under false religious pretenses.
The FIA said that two other key members of the group, Zahoor Ahmed and Muhammad Ghafoor, were already taken into custody earlier during the investigation. The gang was allegedly involved in trafficking poor and uneducated women by promising them free Umrah packages and domestic jobs in Saudi Arabia. However, once the victims arrived, they were coerced into begging in public areas under strict supervision and with no means of escape.
An FIA spokesperson told reporters that the operation was part of a broader campaign against cross-border human trafficking rings. He said the suspects operated a well-organized system involving local agents who recruited victims from smaller towns and rural areas, collecting money through “sponsorship fees” and fake travel arrangements.
Authorities confirmed that more arrests are expected as the FIA expands its investigation to trace financial transactions, facilitators, and potential victims still trapped in Saudi Arabia. The agency has also begun coordinating with Saudi authorities and Interpol to dismantle the network completely and ensure the victims’ safe return to Pakistan.
The FIA urged the public to stay cautious of fraudulent travel agents offering free Umrah or overseas job opportunities and to report suspicious activities immediately through official helplines.