Pakistan’s Federal Investigating Agency (FIA) has taken into custody eight Chinese citizens suspected trafficking Pakistani girls to China for the purpose of forcing them into prostitution, reports Business Standard.

"On Monday, we have arrested seven Chinese men and a Chinese woman for their alleged involvement in trafficking of Pakistani girls to China for the purpose of prostitution," FIA Punjab Director Tariq Rustam said to PTI.

The accused persons would contract marriage with the girls first and then force them into the flesh trade once they were taken to China. It is believed that most of the girls who have been targeted by Chinese nationals in this way belong to Pakistan’s minority Christian community.

Just last week, officials from the FIA raided one such marriage taking place in Faisalabad, arresting two Chinese nationals in the process.

The latest crackdown may just be the tip of the iceberg, as officials believe that up to hundreds of Pakistani girls may have trafficked to China over the last couple of years. Some of the cases may also involve organ trafficking.

As per reports by Pakistani media, Chinese men attract these girls through money and by promising them a better life in China. Illegal ‘matchmaking’ centres provide these Chinese men with fake documents certifying that they’re either Christian or Muslim in order to go through with the official marriage process.