KARACHI: Immigration authorities at Jinnah International Airport offloaded 30 passengers late Saturday night over suspicions of human smuggling, officials confirmed.
According to immigration officials, the individuals were traveling to various countries and were flagged for irregularities during routine checks. Authorities believe most of the offloaded passengers were at risk of falling victim to human smuggling networks.
Those detained were transferred to the Anti-Human Smuggling Circle for further investigation, while some individuals were allowed to return home after preliminary questioning.
Officials cited multiple reasons for the offloading, including incomplete documentation, discrepancies in travel credentials, and violations of immigration protocols.
One passenger, Abid Ali, bound for Saudi Arabia, was flagged on the Integrated Border Management System (IBMS) list, while Salman Riaz, a public servant traveling to the Gulf on an employment visa, was found without the mandatory no-objection certificate (NOC).
Others, including Aftab Ahmed, Mohammad Khalil, Mohammad Riaz, and Ahmed Khan, who were also traveling to Saudi Arabia, had incomplete travel documents. Another individual, Faiz, who was traveling on a visit visa, lacked sufficient funds for travel expenses and failed to provide confirmed hotel bookings.
The incident underscores the need for stringent measures to combat human smuggling and protect vulnerable individuals from exploitation. The Anti-Human Smuggling Circle continues its investigations to determine the extent of the smuggling network and whether additional suspects are involved.
Authorities have reiterated the importance of travelers ensuring proper documentation and compliance with immigration rules to avoid legal complications or risks during international travel.
