Umrah as a Cover for ‘Dunki’: FIA Offloads Three Boys at Sialkot Airport
According to FIA sources, the three youths allegedly intended to travel to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas before attempting to reach Greece via Libya with the help of an alleged human smuggling network.
ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has allegedly foiled an attempt to use Umrah visas as a cover for illegal migration to Europe by offloading three young men from Sialkot International Airport, according to FIA sources.
The sources said the three passengers were travelling to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas alongside their mothers, while one of them was accompanied by both his mother and grandmother in what investigators believe was an effort to avoid suspicion during immigration clearance.
During questioning, the youths allegedly admitted that their actual plan was to travel onward to Europe through the illegal “Dunki” route after reaching Saudi Arabia. Investigators claim they intended to enter Libya before attempting to reach Greece with the assistance of an alleged human smuggling network.
According to FIA sources, each individual had reportedly agreed to pay around Rs5.5 million to facilitators for the journey. The suspects were allegedly in contact with a human smuggler from Mandi Bahauddin who is currently based in Europe.
The three suspects were taken into custody after being offloaded from the flight for further investigation. FIA sources further claimed that after the youths were prevented from travelling, their mothers and the grandmother also decided not to proceed with the Umrah pilgrimage.
The matter remains under investigation, and authorities are working to identify and trace others allegedly involved in the suspected human smuggling network.
