FIA Seizes Rs1.49B in Illegal Currency Bust

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has apprehended 494 individuals entangled in illegal currency exchange, hawala, and hundi operations nationwide this year, seizing a whopping Rs 1.49 billion in illicit funds.

In its relentless crackdown, the FIA executed 384 raids and lodged 396 cases against these illegal operators. The recovered assets encompass over 466,000 US dollars, foreign currencies valued at more than Rs 203 million, and Rs 1.13 billion in cash. The FIA also shuttered multiple shops implicated in illegal currency exchanges during these nationwide operations, conducted in tandem with fellow law enforcement agencies.

The agency reaffirmed its steadfast resolve to deploy every resource to capture perpetrators of illegal currency trade and ensure justice. It spotlighted a sharpened focus on foreign agents in this illicit trade, adhering to a rigorous zero-tolerance policy.

On September 7, the FIA escalated its assault on illegal currency exchange networks and human smuggling groups, yielding numerous arrests and the confiscation of millions in cash.