Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has uncovered a human trafficking operation disguised as a football team, detaining 22 men after their failed attempt to enter Japan illegally.As per reports, the group departed from Sialkot but was deported immediately upon arrival in Japan when authorities identified their documents as fake. An FIA spokesperson revealed that the men had been “trained to act and behave like professional footballers” in an attempt to pass immigration checks. The investigation has centred on Malik Waqas, who allegedly set up a bogus football club named Golden Football Trial to facilitate the operation. The FIA described him as the mastermind of the racket, noting he had been involved in a similar scheme in 2024. As per the report, Waqas charged each individual PKR 4 million (approximately INR 12 lakh) to arrange their travel. He is accused of forging sevearal documents, including fake registration papers purportedly issued by the Pakistan Football Federation and fabricated clearances from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Waqas was arrested on September 15 by the FIA, which has since opened a wider investigation. During interrogation, he confessed to having sent 17 men to Japan in January 2024 using the same method of assembling a fraudulent football team. The case shows how sporting identities are being exploited by human trafficking networks to facilitate illegal migration. “The individuals were carrying fake documents and posed as footballers to gain entry abroad,” the FIA spokesperson said.
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Pakistan has been stepping up measures against illegal immigration in recent years. In November 2023, authorities launched a crackdown on undocumented migrants, including Afghan nationals, amid security concerns. The interior ministry estimates the country hosts more than four million Afghan migrants and refugees, 1.7 million of them without legal documentation.
