The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has cracked down on a human smuggling network involved in illegally transporting citizens to Europe through dangerous sea routes. Five passengers were detained at Karachi airport after arriving from Mauritania, identified as Samiullah, Daud Iqbal, Murtaza Khan, Shah Wali, and Arshad, all hailing from Hafizabad, Gujranwala, and Swat.
The investigation revealed that the passengers had been charged between Rs2.5 million and Rs3.5 million each by agents who promised to facilitate their illegal journey to Europe. The passengers had traveled through Dubai, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar before reaching Mauritania, where the agents attempted to send them to Europe via a hazardous sea route. Fearing for their safety, the passengers refused and returned to Pakistan.
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The FIA is actively pursuing the human smugglers, reportedly based in various parts of Punjab, as the investigation continues. The detained individuals have been handed over to the Karachi Anti-Human Trafficking Circle for further questioning and legal proceedings.
This crackdown follows a tragic incident last week in which 16 Pakistanis lost their lives in a boat accident off the coast of Libya, with 37 survivors. The boat, carrying 65 passengers, capsized in the Mediterranean Sea, highlighting the ongoing risks faced by those attempting illegal migration. A separate boat tragedy last month also claimed the lives of 13 Pakistanis when a vessel carrying 80 people capsized between Mauritania and Morocco.
