A coordinated begging network has been uncovered in Saudi Arabia, which was transferring collected funds abroad through the hawala system.
According to FIA Immigration officials, two passengers, Muhammad Jameel and Guria Bibi, residents of Faisalabad, arrived in Karachi from Saudi Arabia and were stopped during clearance on suspicion.
Initial investigation revealed that both individuals had traveled abroad on Umrah visas and admitted to using an agent named Kashmir Ali from Jhelum.
Further inquiry exposed a structured begging network that collected money in Saudi Arabia through begging and transferred it to an agent in Canada via hawala channels.
During interrogation, the suspects named a facilitator, Iftikhar alias “Wakeel,” who is allegedly involved in sending individuals to various countries for begging. A bank account used for transferring funds was also identified.
Authorities stated that receipts and voice notes were recovered from the suspects’ mobile phones. Both individuals have been taken into custody and handed over to AHTC Karachi for further investigation.
