• Source:JND
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In a bizarre twist on human trafficking, Japanese authorities have deported a “football team” from Pakistan after discovering that the group’s documents were counterfeit. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan confirmed that a 22-member group posed as professional football players from a fictitious team to fly from Sialkot International Airport to Japan, only to be sent back once their papers were scrutinised.

The FIA revealed that the main suspect behind the scheme, Malik Waqas, had created a fake football club named Golden Football Trial. Waqas allegedly provided the men with crash-course football training to make their disguise convincing and charged each member around Rs 4 million (approximately USD 13,000 to 15,000) for facilitating their travel. The documents submitted to Japanese authorities falsely stated that the team had scheduled matches in Japan.

Despite the careful planning, Japanese officials quickly identified inconsistencies in the group’s paperwork, including falsified registration certificates purportedly issued by the Pakistan Football Federation and counterfeit no-objection certificates from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The authorities promptly deported all 22 men back to Pakistan and publicly shamed them for their attempted impersonation.

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Arrest And Investigation

Malik Waqas was taken into custody by the FIA, and an FIR has been lodged at the Gujranwala police station. During interrogation, Waqas admitted to previously sending 17 people to Japan using a similar scheme in January 2024. Investigators are now working to uncover the full network behind this  human trafficking attempt.

Authorities also seized an array of incriminating evidence, including fake documents, counterfeit letterheads of the football federation, and other materials used to carry out the scheme. The FIA emphasised that human traffickers are increasingly using creative tactics to bypass tightened border security, including disguising migrants as athletes.

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Human Trafficking Tactics Evolve

With stricter scrutiny at land borders, traffickers are turning to international flights and elaborate ruses to transport victims abroad. Each participant in this latest operation paid between PKR 4 to 4.5 million to be part of the sham football team.

Multiple cases have already been registered against Waqas Ali in Gujranwala for human trafficking, and officials vow to dismantle the broader network responsible for orchestrating such dangerous schemes.