GUJRANWALA: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has taken into custody 22 Pakistani nationals who posed as professional footballers after being deported by Japanese immigration authorities for traveling on forged documents.
According to FIA officials, the group wore football kits and falsely claimed to be part of the Pakistan Football Federation with scheduled matches in Japan. Immigration officials in Japan uncovered the deception during questioning and deported the men back to Pakistan.
Following their return, FIA’s Composite Circle Gujranwala arrested the alleged mastermind, Malik Waqas, who had registered a fake football club named Golden Football Trial. Another key trafficker, Ali, was also apprehended. Authorities revealed that Waqas charged each individual nearly Rs4 million for arranging the fraudulent trip.
The FIA spokesperson confirmed that investigations are underway to track down other facilitators involved in the racket. Waqas reportedly admitted to previously sending 17 people to Japan in January 2024 using the same method.
Officials said all the deportees were trained to behave like professional athletes and carried fabricated documents to support their claims. A formal case has been registered at FIA’s Gujranwala police station.
The arrests mark part of ongoing efforts to dismantle human trafficking networks in Pakistan. Authorities noted that many Pakistanis attempt to migrate illegally each year, often facing exploitation or fatal risks. Last month, the United Nations in Pakistan launched the United Nations Network on Migration (UNNM) to improve governance, curb trafficking, and align with global migration frameworks.
