Fake Pakistan football team caught and deported from Japan in alleged human trafficking case

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan has arrested a person named Waqas Ali for allegedly sending people to Japan by pretending they were part of a football team and were visiting the country to play matches. The suspected human trafficking agent is reportedly a resident of Pasroor in Sialkot. He was taken into custody on September 15.

According to Pakistani newspaper Dawn, Waqas Ali arranged 15-day visit visas for 17 people by forging an invitation letter that looked like it was from Boavista Football Club, and the file also included fake letters from Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to make it look like it was an official football tour.

At least two fake Pakistani football teams sent to Japan

The Pakistani group travelled to Japan on January 1, 2024, but never returned. FIA officials believe it is a case of human trafficking and illegal migration of people. FIA believes that each person paid between Rs 4 to 4.5 million PKR for this deal. FIA Gujranwala Director Muhammad Bin Ashraf told Dawn that a case has been filed against the suspect, and the investigation is still going on.

Waqas Ali’s name had also come up in another case at the FIA Gujranwala office, where he was accused of sending a fake 22-member football team to Japan on June 15, 2025. But the Japanese immigration officials caught the group at the airport and sent them back, after which the matter was reported to the FIA.

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