The Federal Research Agency (FIA), the Gujranwala area, arrested a suspect involved in the illegal shipping of citizens abroad through maritime routes, the Associated Press of Pakistan reported on Friday.
The agency has expanded its ongoing repression against the alleged traffickers of people involved in the smuggling of Pakistani citizens abroad, many of whom have perished in maritime incidents.
Earlier this month, 16 national Pakistani died while they were in a boat accident off the coast of Libya, while at least 10 remain missing. In January, a boat that transported 80 passengers overturned near Morocco, with more than 40 Pakistani among the dead.
A FIA spokesman said the suspect, Muhammad Qasim aka Umar Khan, was arrested in Mandi Bahauddin, Application information.
The spokesman said that the suspect, along with his accomplices, “tried to illegally send a citizen to Spain.”
The victim was first sent to Mauritania in a visit visa, after which the smuggers tried to transport it to Spain through a boat. However, the victim refused to travel through Mar and returned to Pakistan.
The spokesman added that the suspects had allegedly extorted RS4.9 million of the victim’s family in exchange for facilitating their illegal migration. A case was recorded against the arrested suspect and new investigations were being carried out.
The director of the FIA Gujranwala area, Abdul Qadir qamar, said the agency has intensified operations against people trafficking. He reaffirmed that a zero tolerance policy was being enforced to combat crime.
“Those who play with innocent lives will be taken before justice,” he said.
Last week, the FIA arrested five people traffickers, including two proclaimed criminals, during a continuous offensive against trafficking in persons.
The FIA also confiscated assets worth around RS480 million traffickers of fugitive people involved in recent shipwrecks. Assets also include the seizure of RS50m bank accounts.
