The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested an individual who was allegedly involved in the trafficking of Pakistani citizens to Japan on the pretext of sending them as a sports delegation. Waqas Ali, a resident of Pasroor in Sialkot, was arrested on September 15, a report originally published by Dawn said.
17 Sent to Japan with Fake Football Credentials
Ali enabled short-term Japanese visas for 17 people, lying to them that they were football players, the senior FIA officials say. The visas were issued in accordance with an invitation letter supposedly from the Boavista Football Club, and the visa file contained fake documents to present the group as a genuine football team.
The forged documents involved a spurious registration letter issued by the Pakistan Football Federation (PFF) and a false No Objection Certificate (NOC) supposedly from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs critical documents that would have added legitimacy to the visa application process.
The team is said to have flown out of Pakistan to Japan on January 1, 2024, and none have yet returned, fueling suspicions that the tour had been used as a cover for unauthorized immigration.
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A Costly Operation
Experts estimate that everyone paid INR 4 to 4.5 million for the journey. The FIA reports this operation used the authority of sports exchanges and cultural tours, and names of well-known football clubs and official-sounding documents to go unnoticed when obtaining a visa.
This scam is indicative of the financial magnitude of black-market migration networks, in which sports branding is increasingly employed to conceal illicit activity.
Repeat Offender? Earlier Case Too Associated
Waqas Ali was also accused in a previous case in June 2025, wherein another fake football team, this one comprising 22 players – tried to go to Japan. In that episode, the ruse was discovered by Japanese immigration officials, who deported the whole group when they arrived, and it led to an FIA investigation.
This most recent arrest is in connection with that previous investigation and, officials say, may result in further arrests. Law enforcement is now following money trails and authenticating the documents, stamps, and affiliations utilized within these operations.
Illegal activities in name of Sports
The FIA has also expressed concerns over the increasing trend of sports and cultural schemes being used as a cover for illegal immigration. Investigators observe a consistent rise in fake club invitations, fake government clearances, and forged federation approvals all designed to avoid scrutiny at border controls.
For its part, the FIA claims to be collaborating with local and foreign agencies to intensify monitoring procedures and plug the loopholes that enable such fraud to continue. The authorities have also appealed to families and individuals to properly verify the genuineness of any foreign sports or cultural tour before they pay.
