Libya Boat Tragedy: FIA Arrests Six, Including Top Human Traffickers
The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has apprehended six individuals, including a notorious human trafficker, in connection with the tragic Libya boat incident.
An FIA spokesperson stated that the arrests were made during operations conducted in Gujranwala and Gujrat. Among those arrested is Khurram Shehzad, a key operative linked to international agents in Libya. The accused reportedly charged a family Rs. 1 million to send a minor to Europe via boat. During the raid in Gujrat, several passports were recovered, implicating him further in human trafficking activities.
Another high-profile arrest included Yasir Mehmood, a notorious trafficker on the FIA’s Red Book of most-wanted criminals. Mehmood, wanted in five cases registered in Composite Circle Gujrat in 2023, allegedly extorted millions from victims by promising illegal passage to Europe. Victims were transported to Libya via Egypt and Dubai, where they were kept in deplorable conditions.
Using advanced technology, FIA apprehended Mehmood in Gujrat following multiple raids. Investigations are ongoing, with efforts underway to capture his accomplices.
This year, two major incidents of boats sinking in the Mediterranean near Libya have claimed numerous Pakistani lives. The tragedies, occurring in February and April, highlighted the dangerous operations of human trafficking networks.
Former Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities to investigate the migrant shipwreck near Greece, which involved several Pakistani nationals. He emphasized the need for an immediate crackdown on traffickers and vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
