Summary of this article
Fake Pakistani football team arrested in Japan for trafficking.
Suspects used forged documents and staged football training.
FIA investigates Malik Waqas; legal action ongoing in Pakistan
Japanese authorities busted a human trafficking attempt when they deported 22 men from Pakistan whose travel documents were found to be fake. The group had travelled from Sialkot to Japan, claiming to be members of a professional football team, but routine immigration checks exposed inconsistencies in their papers.
According to international media reports, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), Pakistan’s premier law enforcement body, said the individuals were trained to behave like professional footballers and carried multiple fake documents, including counterfeit registrations from the Pakistan Football Federation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Investigators have identified Malik Waqas, who had registered a club named ‘Golden Football Trial’, as a key suspect. According to reports, Waqas charged each individual about PKR 4 million (Rs 12 lakh) to assist their illegal journey overseas. The FIA further stated that the suspects received basic football training, practised routines, and even carried jerseys and equipment to make their claims appear genuine, revealing the level of organisation involved in the operation.
Officials said Waqas had previously arranged a similar operation in January 2024, when 17 men were sent to Japan using forged documents under the guise of a football team. He was arrested by the FIA’s Composite Circle in Gujranwala on September 15, and investigations are ongoing, according to reports.
The case has raised questions about how the men were able to board international flights without detection. It is said that officials are looking at travel and verification procedures to prevent such incidents in the future.
Officials noted that sports teams are sometimes used as a cover for illegal travel, enabling traffickers to bypass scrutiny.
The FIA confirmed it will take legal action against all individuals involved. Japanese authorities have returned the deported men to Pakistan, and further proceedings are expected.
