ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) is continuing its extensive operations against individuals involved in human smuggling and the so-called “Dunki” mafia.
According to the media reports, between 40,000 and 50,000 Pakistani citizens attempt to leave the country illegally every year, with the FIA serving as the biggest obstacle to such attempts.
The FIA has not only exposed dozens of human smuggling networks through coordination within Pakistan and with international contacts, but has also brought human smugglers responsible for sending thousands of Pakistanis abroad through illegal means before the courts, resulting in strict punishments.
The agency is using digital surveillance, mobile data analysis, tracking systems, and the exchange of information with international organizations as part of its efforts against human smuggling, making it the country’s largest force combating the crime.
According to the information, the FIA has uncovered dozens of smuggling networks and taken legal action against human smugglers who sent thousands of Pakistanis illegally to Europe, the Middle East, and other countries.
From 2023 to 2026, the FIA’s Anti-Human Trafficking Circle registered more than 7,000 cases across the country and arrested over 10,000 suspects. Assets worth more than Rs17 billion linked to human smuggling cases were also frozen.
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Most of these cases involved the illegal European route, commonly referred to as “Dunki.” During the past six months, the FIA shut down more than 200 fake travel agencies and unlicensed overseas employment offices that were using social media to claim they could send young people to European countries.
In addition, the FIA placed 15,000 passports on its suspicious list over the past year, while 5,000 individuals were offloaded from airports, preventing them from becoming victims of human smuggling. According to the information, these individuals were attempting to travel abroad using illegal visas, fake invitation letters, and dangerous routes. It added that timely action prevented them from potentially being held hostage by smugglers.
According to the FIA report, a large number of human trafficking victims are people who fall into the traps of smugglers due to poverty, unemployment, and a lack of awareness. To address this, the FIA has been conducting awareness programmes in schools, colleges, and rural areas over the past two years.
International cooperation also remains a key part of the FIA’s campaign. Through information sharing with law enforcement agencies in the European Union, the United Kingdom, Türkiye, Gulf countries, and Iran, and with the support of Interpol, more than 120 international warrants were executed in 2025, leading to the arrest of key figures in major human smuggling networks.
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The FIA has also carried out operations against the trafficking of women and children. Over the past three years, more than 1,500 women and children were rescued after allegedly being lured with promises of overseas jobs or marriage for the purpose of trafficking.
According to the provided information, the FIA’s effective operations have resulted in a 35 percent decline in human smuggling in 2026 compared to 2019.
