An Afghan human trafficker, involved in smuggling citizens to Europe via Libya, has been arrested in Abbottabad.
The suspect, identified as Afser Khan, was captured following an intelligence operation carried out by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in the region, Express News reported.
Afser Khan is the brother of infamous human smuggling agent Qari Jan Muhammad and has been involved in people smuggling via the sea route from Libya to Europe.
He was arrested in Haripur and evidence found on his mobile phone points to his involvement in illegal human trafficking activities, with links to victims and other actors.
The FIA has launched an investigation into the smuggling network and is carrying out raids to arrest more suspects.
Authorities stressed that the repression against those involved in the recent boat tragedy off the coast of Greece continues and that all available resources are being used to ensure that no one is allowed to exploit innocent lives.
Earlier today, it was reported that the FIA carried out a massive crackdown on human traffickers, making several arrests and blacklisting the passports of several officers involved in the heinous crime that claimed several lives.
Following the boat tragedies in Greece and Libya, which claimed the lives of several Pakistanis during illegal immigration, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued strict instructions to crack down on organized and unorganized gangs involved in human trafficking. The number of suspects arrested in connection with the 2023 Libya boat incident has reached 144.
Authorities were ordered to immediately block the identity documents and bank accounts of the officers involved in the boat accidents. Consequently, the FIA swung into action and carried out multiple raids, arrests and other measures against illegal immigration.
During the investigation, it was revealed that most of the migrants departed on regular legal visit visas through various airports in Pakistan, rather than opting for illegal land routes used by human traffickers. These migrants then sneaked in via the land route from Dubai and Iran and were picked up by human traffickers to reach Libya, from there they crossed the international border to reach Europe by boat.
Alleged collusion by FIA immigration staff has also come to light. Two officers, including the FIA immigration duty in-charge at Faisalabad airport, were arrested and a case was registered. Orders were also issued to keep the names of 31 FIA immigration officers and staff from Islamabad, Sialkot and other airports on the Provisional National Identification List (PNIL) due to suspicious activities in the Greek ship crash.
FIA officials say that in light of the Prime Minister’s directives, investigations into boat accidents will be accelerated. The number of suspects arrested during the FIA crackdown on the 2023 Libya boat crash has risen to 144, including 16 declared and most wanted human traffickers whose names were included in the Red Book.
A total of 197 cases were recorded in the boat accident in Libya. The passports of all 55 defendants were blacklisted. International agents involved in human trafficking are also coming under pressure and arrests of human traffickers residing abroad are being carried out with the help of Interpol, officials add. Red notices were issued for the arrest of 20 foreign agents involved in human trafficking.
