Abbas Ali Haider, 49, of Sialkot, Pakistan, pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to leading an international human smuggling conspiracy that used fraudulent film production companies and the 'dunki' route through Ecuador, Colombia, and Cuba to bring Pakistani nationals into the United States. Haider admitted to orchestrating a network that falsified visas and travel documents, posing travelers as film crew members for non-existent joint productions in Latin America, with the ultimate goal of illegal entry into the U.S. via the southern border.

Haider operated two shell companies, Diamond TV World Productions and Multimedia Advertising Ltd., which he used to secure legitimate-looking visas from Latin American nations. He arranged for local film firms in Ecuador, Cuba, and Colombia to sponsor visas for Pakistani nationals under the pretense of film-related travel. The travelers carried forged employment documents and were coached to claim work in the film industry when entering countries like Panama, Brazil, and Colombia. Once in Latin America, Haider’s network guided them toward the U.S.-Mexico border, where they crossed illegally into California, Texas, and Arizona.

U.S. authorities say Haider managed the operation remotely from Pakistan between September 2019 and September 2023, charging up to $40,000 per person for smuggling services. He traveled to Mexico in late 2024, where he was arrested in January 2025 at the request of the U.S. government. He was extradited to the United States in July 2025 to face charges.

Haider pleaded guilty to one count of conspiring to encourage or induce illegal immigration for financial gain. He faces a mandatory minimum of three years and a maximum of 10 years in federal prison. The court has scheduled sentencing for July 30, 2025.