PESHAWAR: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Peshawar Zone on Saturday arrested six individuals allegedly involved in illegal currency exchange and Hawala Hundi operations during targeted raids in Mansehra and Charsadda.
According to an FIA spokesperson, the operations were carried out by the Commercial Banking Circle Peshawar and the Composite Circle Abbottabad. Those arrested were identified as Gul Bahadur, Ibaad Gul, Asif Khan, Jamshed, Malikzada, and Naseebul Haq.
Authorities said the accused were operating without licenses and were engaged in unlawful money transfers through underground Hawala Hundi networks. A total of Rs6.2 million in local currency, US dollars, Saudi Riyals, 14 mobile phones, and a vehicle were seized during the raids. Receipts, registers, and other transaction records were also recovered.
The spokesperson added that the suspects failed to give satisfactory explanations regarding the recovered items. A formal investigation has been launched.
Read More: FIA Multan, Bahawalpur Arrest Four Human Traffickers
FIA to open link offices abroad to curb human smuggling
In a separate development, the FIA has announced plans to establish link offices in six countries to curb rising incidents of human smuggling.
According to official sources, the immigration wing of the agency will set up offices in the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy, while one office each will also be opened in Turkey, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates.
Human smuggling remains one of Pakistan’s most pressing challenges, fueled by unemployment, poverty, lack of education and political instability. Many citizens risk perilous journeys to Europe, often falling prey to traffickers.
Earlier this year, at least 44 Pakistani migrants lost their lives in a boat tragedy near Spain while attempting to cross the Atlantic Ocean illegally.
Sources said the decision to open FIA offices abroad aims to crack down on trafficking networks operating from these countries and to strengthen international cooperation on migration controls.
