SAHIWAL: Three young men from Pakistan’s Sahiwal district have fallen victim to a honey trap scam in Thailand, where they were allegedly abducted by Indian women and trafficked across the border to Myanmar.
The victims have been identified as Usman Amin, Muhammad Ahmed, and Tajammul Shehzad. According to their families, the youths had been in contact with the women over phone calls prior to their trip. They departed for Thailand on May 26, 2025, along with a friend from Faisalabad.
Upon their arrival in Thailand, they were kidnapped and taken to an undisclosed location near the Myanmar border. The abductors later contacted their families in Pakistan, demanding a ransom of Rs10 million for their safe release.
Parents of the victims revealed that the Indian women involved had arranged and sent airline tickets for the youths and remained in constant contact with them throughout their journey. Reports also suggest that unidentified individuals saw them off at Lahore Airport, raising concerns over a possible organised network behind the trafficking operation.
Meanwhile, the Pakistani Embassy in Thailand has come under heavy criticism for its delayed response. Families of the abducted men said embassy officials have remained unhelpful despite multiple appeals, providing no meaningful updates or assistance.
The incident has prompted calls for urgent action from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, who has intervened in similar human trafficking cases in the past.
This case highlights a worrying rise in honey trap and human trafficking crimes targeting young Pakistanis seeking better opportunities abroad. Earlier this year, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested nine individuals linked to human trafficking and visa fraud schemes. Raids were carried out in Gujranwala, Gujrat, Multan, Rahim Yar Khan, and Mian Channu, where suspects were found luring citizens with fake promises of overseas employment.
