KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration on Sunday thwarted an attempt to traffic a woman for sexual exploitation by offloading three passengers, including two women, from a United Arab Emirates (UAE)-bound flight at Jinnah International Airport.

According to an FIA spokesperson, the operation uncovered an organised network involved in human smuggling and sexual exploitation. The passengers were identified as a woman victim, Sumaira, and two alleged traffickers — Nosheen Ishaq and her husband Jamshed Iqbal — who were attempting to take her to the UAE.

Preliminary investigations revealed that the group planned to subject the woman to sexual exploitation abroad. Following the victim’s identification, two additional facilitators, identified as Asim and Noman, were also arrested.

The FIA said the victim had been recruited by a woman named Shamila through social media platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp, after being promised a monthly salary of Rs150,000.

Investigators stated that Shamila, along with her accomplices Nosheen Ishaq and Jamshed Iqbal, arranged the victim’s travel to the UAE and had previously facilitated the overseas movement of several women under similar circumstances.

During a raid at Shamila’s residence in Azam Town, Karachi, FIA officials recovered multiple pieces of evidence, including mobile phones containing WhatsApp conversations, photographs and financial transaction records.

According to the FIA, Asim and Noman provided logistical support, including travel arrangements and transportation for the passengers.

All suspects have been handed over to the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, Karachi, for further investigation, the spokesperson added.