GUJRAT: Gujrat circle of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed to have arrested a ‘most wanted’ human trafficker who was also a proclaimed offender (PO) in the case pertaining to the Libya boat capsize tragedy occurring in 2021.

The suspect, Basheer Ahmad, a resident of Hafizabad, was also included in the FIA’s red book in 2023 as a most wanted trafficker.

According to a spokesman, an FIA team led by Gujrat Assistant Director Muhammad Yousaf, arrested the suspect from Hafizabad district during a raid on Sunday.

The spokesman says the suspect had been booked in at least 10 different cases of human trafficking lodged with the FIA’s Gujrat circle.

In 2021, the suspect, along with his accomplices, illegally extorted Rs1.8 million from each of the 12 Pakistani nationals intending to migrate to Europe.

The individuals were initially flown to Nigeria, and then to Niger, from where they crossed into Libya through unlawful means. Once in Libya, they were held in safe houses under deplorable conditions before being transported by boat to Italy.

Tragically, the boat carrying these individuals sank, and all on board are presumed dead.

Following the incident, different FIRs were lodged with the FIA’s Gujrat circle.

An FIA official says further investigation into the matter was underway.

Campaign: Aimed at curbing illegal human trafficking, the Sialkot International Airport and the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) have displayed standees carrying the material against human trafficking.

An FIA official said an awareness campaign had been launched at the airport in connection with the ongoing drive against human trafficking in Gujranwala and Gujrat regions since most Pakistani expats belonged to these regions.

He said the awareness material had been put at the arrival and departure immigration counters, boarding halls and passenger lounge of the airport.

He added that awareness seminars in the potential rural areas were also being conducted on a regular basis to convince the rural youth to stay away from becoming clients of human smugglers.

The standees also carry warnings of imprisonment and fine for the crime of travelling on fake visas and documents.

Meanwhile, the FIA Gujranwala claimed to have offloaded 38 passengers, including five beggars from different flights at Sialkot airport during the last week whereas 17 human smugglers were arrested and 27 cases of human trafficking were lodged.

Published in Dawn, November 4th, 2024