Pakistan's fake football team foiled in Japan

A group of Pakistani migrants attempting to enter Japan under the guise of a football team were intercepted by Japanese authorities, who discovered fake documents at the airport and sent them back to Pakistan.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan said the operation was part of a human trafficking scheme orchestrated by Malik Waqas, the gang’s mastermind, who has since been arrested for questioning and legal action.

According to the FIA, 22 people left Sialkot airport under a fabricated club named Golden Football Trial, using forged invitations from a Japanese football club, falsified permission letters from the Pakistan Football Federation, and fake Ministry of Foreign Affairs orders.

They obtained 15-day visas before flying out.

During interrogation, Waqas admitted to previously sending 17 people to Japan using the same method, charging each migrant around PKR 4 million and providing them with football training as cover.