Inter-Agencies Task Force Activated to Combat Illegal Immigration in Balochistan

QUETTA:An **Inter-Agencies Task Force** has been activated to crack down on illegal immigration routes in Balochistan, particularly targeting individuals attempting to illegally travel to Europe via **Taftan** and other routes. The task force will focus on monitoring individuals trying to cross into Iran as a gateway for illegal migration.

According to officials from the **Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)**, the task force, which was first established in **2005**, includes personnel from the FIA, police, Levies, Coast Guard, and other law enforcement agencies. The task force has now been reinvigorated to tackle the growing issue of illegal migration from **Balochistan**.

The **FIA’s Special Team** deployed in **Tafatan** is not only conducting thorough checks on individuals attempting to travel abroad but is also filing cases related to **human trafficking** and **smuggling**. The FIA officials confirmed that, as part of the ongoing efforts to combat human trafficking, cases under the **Human Smuggling Act**—enacted in **2018**—have been registered, with authorities starting to implement the law effectively this year.

So far in **2024**, the FIA has registered **23 human smuggling cases** and **five human trafficking cases**, leading to the arrest of several illegal agents involved in such activities. Additionally, to prevent individuals from illegally traveling to **Saudi Arabia** for begging, the FIA has ramped up surveillance at the province’s airports.

Officials emphasized that the fight against human trafficking and illegal immigration remains a priority, and the reactivation of the task force is aimed at ensuring the safety and security of Balochistan’s citizens, while curbing the illegal migration networks that exploit vulnerable individuals.