The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Gujranwala has arrested a notorious human trafficker, Waqas Ali, from Sialkot International Airport for sending dozens of young men to Japan under the guise of fake football teams.

According to the FIA spokesperson, the Composite Circle Gujranwala conducted the operation and apprehended Waqas Ali, who had been wanted in several cases of human smuggling.

Investigations revealed that in January 2024, the accused arranged fake documents to portray 17 men as a football team and sent them to Japan.

To secure visas, he used forged Pakistan Football Federation registration papers and a counterfeit No Objection Certificate (NOC) purportedly issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Officials said each individual paid between Rs4 million and Rs4.5 million to the agent, who managed to fly them out on January 1, 2024.

In addition, this year Waqas Ali allegedly organised another bogus squad of 22 men and sent them to Japan through the same fraudulent scheme.

The FIA has seized forged documents, fake federation letterheads, and other incriminating material during the operation.

Authorities added that multiple cases are already registered against the accused at FIA Gujranwala, and further investigations are underway to trace his wider network and identify accomplices.

The agency reaffirmed its commitment to cracking down on human smuggling, which continues to endanger lives and tarnish Pakistan’s reputation abroad.