FIA Arrests 4 Suspects in Lahore Over Hawala-Hundi Operations and Copyright Violations
Authorities seize over PKR 20.4 million, foreign currency, digital evidence, and counterfeit products during multiple raids in Lahore.
Lahore (Zuaib Butt) The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Lahore Zone has arrested four suspects during separate operations targeting illegal Hawala-Hundi networks and copyright infringement activities in the provincial capital.
The raids were conducted by the FIA Corporate Crime Circle Lahore as part of ongoing efforts to curb financial crimes and intellectual property violations.
According to FIA officials, suspects Shahid Ilyas and Shahid Nazir were arrested for their alleged involvement in Hawala-Hundi transactions and illegal currency exchange operations. During the raid, authorities recovered PKR 20.4 million in cash from the suspects.
Officials also seized foreign currency, including 1,080 US dollars, 320 Australian dollars, 4,015 UAE dirhams, 85 British pounds, and 160 Saudi riyals.
In addition to the cash recovery, FIA teams confiscated documentary records and digital evidence believed to be linked to illegal money transfer activities. The recovered material is expected to assist investigators in tracing the extent of the alleged network and identifying additional individuals involved.
In a separate operation, FIA officials arrested Noor-ul-Mujtaba and Arslan Imtiaz for allegedly violating the Copyright Act.
Authorities recovered a large quantity of counterfeit products bearing the trademarks of well-known registered companies. Preliminary investigations indicate that the suspects were involved in storing, distributing, and selling fake branded products in violation of intellectual property laws.
FIA officials stated that the operations reflect the agency’s commitment to combating financial crimes, illegal currency trading, and trademark infringements that undermine legitimate businesses and economic stability.
Further investigations are underway, and authorities have indicated that additional arrests may follow based on the evidence collected during the raids.
