GUJRAT: At least 146 passengers were offloaded by the immigration authorities of Federal Investigation Agency at Sialkot airport during the last month of September.

Moreover at least 80 passengers who were deported from different countries, have also been detained by the Gujranwala FIA zone.

This was claimed by Gujranwala FIA zone director Abdul Qadir Qamar while talking to Dawn.

He said at least 93 human traffickers were arrested by FIA anti-human trafficking cell in some 63 cases lodged with the different circles of FIA in the entire region.

Out of the arrested traffickers, at least 45 were previously declared as outlaws whereas the challans of already registered 45 cases of human trafficking, were also sent to the court during the last month, Mr Qamar said and added that five officials of FIA Gujranwala Zone, have been penalised and four were suspended during the last one month.

He said the officials had been penalised as a part of FIA`s internal accountability which was continued and several inquiries against the officials had also been underway whereas at least four officials were given commendation certificates for showing good performance.