Unmasking Pakistani criminal gangs threat in Gulf nations
On January 12, 2025, the Saudi Gazette reported a significant crackdown in Makkah, where local police apprehended ten Pakistani nationals linked to approximately 31 financial fraud cases.
This group reportedly amassed over SR 2.8 million through schemes involving the sale of counterfeit gold bars. Such incidents involving Pakistanis in the Gulf are not unprecedented, and authorities across various Gulf nations are acutely aware of the situation.
Historically, the Gulf has attracted Pakistani workers and expatriates, drawn by the promise of employment and improved living conditions. Yet, recent years have seen a troubling decline in the perception of Pakistanis in these regions, fueled by increasing reports of criminal behavior, from minor infractions to more serious organized crime.
This disturbing pattern has not only strained diplomatic ties but has also prompted tighter immigration regulations adversely affecting Pakistan’s economic standing in the area. This commentary delves into the nature of these illicit activities, their repercussions, and the urgent need for cooperative strategies to tackle the root causes.
In recent months, several Gulf nations, notably Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and Oman, have raised alarms over the involvement of Pakistani nationals in a range of criminal activities. These offenses span from theft and fraud to more alarming issues such as drug trafficking.
A particularly troubling report from the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) in May, 2024 highlighted the role of Pakistani drug traffickers in smuggling operations into the Holy City. The report detailed a raid that led to the arrest of several Pakistani individuals linked to the distribution of methamphetamine, commonly referred to as ice, and heroin.
Saudi authorities have conducted numerous drug busts in recent months, revealing that a significant proportion of those apprehended were Pakistani nationals operating trafficking networks primarily in Mecca, Riyadh, and the Eastern regions of the Kingdom.
Just two weeks prior to the aforementioned raid, in April last year, the Riyadh Region Police’s Criminal Investigation and Search Department apprehended two Pakistani residents who were using a residential unit to distribute a staggering 13,000 narcotic tablets.
As reported by South Asia Press on May 8, 2024, these arrests coincide with Saudi Arabia’s intensified efforts to combat drug trafficking and smuggling.
Beyond narcotics, Pakistani individuals have also been implicated in various other crimes within the Kingdom, including prostitution, human trafficking involving women and children, theft, and money laundering, in addition to their involvement in traditional hawala networks.
The Covid-19 pandemic has unveiled troubling connections between Pakistani Tramadol trafficking networks and extremist groups such as ISIS and Boko Haram, raising significant security alarms. Despite the global health crisis, the flow of drugs from Pakistan remained unabated.
Numerous seizures of Tramadol intended for Islamic State territories have been reported, highlighting a persistent issue that continues to evade international scrutiny.
A notable incident occurred in February 2022, when anti-narcotics officials confiscated 649,300 capsules of Tramadol, weighing nearly 461 kilograms, which had been imported from Pakistan via Addis Ababa on Ethiopian Airlines. The gravity of the situation cannot be overstated.
As of February 2024, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan reported that 23,506 Pakistanis are imprisoned abroad, with a staggering 74 percent of these individuals incarcerated in the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, a report from the Justice Project Pakistan (JPP) revealed that between 2010 and 2024, 188 Pakistanis were executed overseas, with 176 (93 percent) of these executions occurring in Saudi Arabia.
According to a report published at The Dawn, on July 31, 2024 that in a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis, Dr. Arshad Mahmood, the secretary of the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, painted a dire picture of the Pakistani labor force in Gulf nations. He disclosed that 50 percent of crimes committed by foreign workers in the UAE are attributed to Pakistanis.
Additionally, UAE authorities have raised concerns regarding the inappropriate conduct of some Pakistani nationals, including incidents of filming women in Dubai without their consent. The Pakistani Diaspora, which numbers approximately 10.7 million, predominantly resides in Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the US, the UK, and Canada.
The secretary also informed the committee that the governments of the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Kuwait have expressed various reservations regarding issues related to overseas Pakistanis.
A recent report from The Dawn reveals alarming developments regarding Pakistani travelers to the United Arab Emirates.
On December 23, 2024, during a session of the Senate Standing Committee on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development, Bureau of Emigration of Overseas Employment Director General, Muhammad Tayyab announced that all Pakistani citizens intending to travel to the UAE will now be subject to police vetting and verification.
This decision comes in light of the UAE’s unofficial restrictions on employment visas, with the committee being informed that no Pakistani will be permitted to travel without this crucial police clearance.
Compounding these concerns is the rising involvement of Pakistani nationals in criminal activities abroad, including robbery and the distribution of counterfeit currency. Reports from the UAE indicate a troubling increase in such offenses linked to Pakistani individuals.
Additionally, the issue of Pakistani nationals engaging in begging and fraudulent schemes has reached critical levels. During significant religious events like Hajj and Umrah, Saudi authorities have detained thousands of Pakistani beggars, particularly in the sacred cities of Mecca and Medina. These actions not only exploit the goodwill of pilgrims but also cast a shadow over Pakistan's reputation.
Furthermore, incidents of document forgery and the operation of fraudulent recruitment agencies have emerged; fostering distrust and prompting heightened scrutiny of Pakistani citizens abroad.
On January 10, 2025, First Post reported that a significant number of Pakistanis- 258 in total-were deported from seven different countries, including Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and China.
The Immigration department at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport revealed that 14 of those deported possessed Pakistani passports, while the remaining 244 were returned on emergency travel documents. Notably, Saudi Arabia accounted for the return of 232 individuals, with an additional 21 deported from the UAE. Among those sent back from Saudi Arabia, nine were identified as professional beggars.
Many of the deportees from both Saudi Arabia and the UAE had been working without proper sponsorship, and four faced deportation due to drug-related offenses. Additionally, one person each was deported from China, Qatar, Indonesia, Cyprus, and Nigeria. This surge in deportations is alarming.
The implications of these actions extend beyond the individuals involved; they pose a significant threat to Pakistan’s economy, which is heavily dependent on remittances from its expatriate community in the Gulf. This region is a crucial source of financial support for Pakistan, playing a vital role in bolstering its foreign exchange reserves.
The State Bank of Pakistan has indicated that remittances from Saudi Arabia and the UAE constitute a major share of the country’s overall remittance inflows. However, the rising trend of deportations and tightening visa regulations could severely diminish these financial lifelines, further complicating Pakistan’s already precarious economic situation.
Addressing the challenges facing Pakistan’s expatriate workforce necessitates a comprehensive strategy that encompasses government initiatives, international partnerships, and grassroots involvement.
By focusing on the underlying issues and promoting collaboration, Pakistan can begin to rehabilitate its international reputation and safeguard the interests of its citizens abroad. A concerted and proactive approach is crucial to overcoming these obstacles and enhancing relationships with Gulf countries.
However, given the current tumultuous political climate and the pervasive corruption within the military-backed government, meaningful progress appears unlikely.
Consequently, it is reasonable to anticipate a decline in employment opportunities for Pakistanis in the Gulf region in the near future. The current economic decline is poised to result in a significant drop in remittances, a crucial source of financial support for a country teetering on the brink of bankruptcy.
