Police escort suspected illegal Afghan nationals during the government’s campaign to evict illegal foreigners from Pakistan. PHOTO: REUTERS
ROBOT:
Authorities in Balochistan on Sunday foiled a major migrant smuggling attempt and detained 29 Afghan nationals during a joint operation by police and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in Turbat district, officials confirmed.
According to police, the operation took place on the outskirts of Turbat, where officers intercepted a Land Cruiser full of people trying to illegally cross the border into Iran.
Among those detained were 12 men, 13 children and 4 women, as well as two drivers accused of facilitating illegal crossing through remote desert routes.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the Afghan nationals were planning to enter Iran as part of a longer journey to Europe through smuggling networks. The detainees have been handed over to the FIA for further questioning, while a full-scale investigation has been launched to identify the agents of the network.
Authorities said the scope of the investigation had expanded and more arrests were expected in the coming days.
The incident comes as Pakistan faces increasing struggles with human trafficking networks, which have become increasingly active amid economic challenges and regional instability.
In September, the United Nations launched a Network on Migration in Pakistan to strengthen migration governance and combat trafficking.
A 2023 report by the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and the European Union found that 24,000 Pakistanis had entered EU countries illegally in the past three years.
The report also noted a sharp increase in irregular migration attempts to the United Kingdom, the United States and Australia, as smugglers exploit vulnerable populations with promises of employment and better living conditions abroad.
