Nadeem Faisal Baiga
FAISALABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Faisalabad has arrested the main absconding suspect in a high-profile drug trafficking case involving Pakistani Umrah pilgrims.
According to FIA officials, the accused, Gul Nawaz, was arrested during an intelligence-based operation in Peshawar after evading authorities for several months. He is alleged to have led the criminal network along with previously arrested suspects Saddam Hussain and Israr Khan.
Investigators said the group allegedly targeted financially vulnerable individuals by offering free Umrah packages. The pilgrims were reportedly given luggage described as gifts and instructed to hand it over to designated individuals in Saudi Arabia without knowing that narcotics were allegedly concealed inside.
The case surfaced in September 2024 when Saudi authorities arrested five Pakistani Umrah pilgrims, including women from Jaranwala, after allegedly recovering drugs from their luggage. The pilgrims were later convicted by Saudi courts, prompting the FIA to launch a comprehensive investigation into the network.
FIA officials said the arrest of Gul Nawaz represents a major breakthrough in the investigation. Director FIA Faisalabad Saqib Sultan said the agency remains committed to dismantling organized criminal networks involved in drug trafficking and the exploitation of innocent citizens.
The FIA added that investigations are continuing to identify and arrest other accomplices, reaffirming its commitment to combating organized crime, protecting Pakistani citizens, and safeguarding the country’s international reputation.
