FIA Arrests Three Customs Officials in Bribery Case

The Federal Investigation Agency's (FIA) Anti-Corruption Circle Islamabad has arrested three Pakistan Customs officials over their alleged involvement in a bribery and extortion case.

According to a news report, the arrests came after a complaint accused the officials of harassing and threatening an individual while demanding Rs5 million in exchange for providing unlawful relief in an ongoing customs criminal case.

Investigators said the demanded amount was later negotiated down to Rs2.5 million, with the suspects allegedly threatening to implicate the complainant's family members and business associates if the payment was not made.

Following formal approval, FIA officials conducted a raid at a café in Islamabad's I-8 sector in the presence of a judicial magistrate.

During the operation, one customs inspector was arrested while allegedly receiving Rs500,000 as the first installment of the bribe. Marked currency notes were recovered from the suspect, along with his mobile phone.

An initial forensic examination of the seized device reportedly uncovered voice recordings suggesting a coordinated effort to extort the complainant and harass his relatives.

The main suspect was produced before a local court, which granted the FIA a five-day physical remand to continue its investigation.