Japanese authorities at Tokyo’s airport exposed a scheme involving a fake Pakistani football team. A group of 22 individuals from Pakistan were attempting to enter Japan under false pretenses. Their ruse involved presenting themselves as footballers. Japanese immigration officials, however, saw through the deception. The fake documents were discovered during interrogation, leading to the group’s immediate deportation. The investigation has revealed the involvement of a Pakistan-based human trafficking ring, with the alleged mastermind now in custody.
The group, clad in football kits, claimed affiliation with the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF). They also possessed counterfeit ‘No Objection Certificates’ (NOCs), fabricated to appear as if issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The team was supposedly connected to a non-existent club named ‘Golden Football Trial,’ organized by Malik Waqas of Pasrur, near Sialkot. The alleged purpose of the trip was to participate in a football tournament in Japan. However, it was a deceptive operation.
Malik Waqas allegedly charged each individual 4 million Pakistani Rupees for the journey. This was not his first attempt at this type of operation. Earlier in January 2024, he had arranged the travel of 17 individuals to Japan. They used fake documents and forged invitations from a Japanese club called ‘Bovista FC’. This time the plan was thwarted by Japanese authorities.
Using the false documents, the fraudulent team departed from Sialkot airport. Following the exposure of the scheme, the 22 individuals were returned to Pakistan. Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) then arrested them. The FIA has classified this as a major human trafficking case. Investigations indicate that Waqas was arrested by the FIA’s Composite Circle on September 15, and several cases were filed against him. The investigation revealed a substantial human trafficking network, taking advantage of fabricated sporting events.