GUJRAT: In a major breakthrough in its crackdown against the human traffickers, the Federal Investigation Agency on Sunday arrested two most-wanted human traffickers whose names were on FIA Red Book.

The arrested traffickers were involved in sending victims to 2023 Libyan boat capsize.

One of the arrested traffickers was wanted by Gujrat FIA circle in two dozen cases, Gujranwala circle four and Sargodha FIA circle three cases.

FIA Gujranwala Zone director Abdul Qadir Qamar told Dawn that Mubashir Ali of village Kot Bela (Gujrat) was apprehended from Bahria Town, Rawalpindi, using modern tools and technology

The accused, he said, was also wanted to Anti-Human Trafficking Cell of Gujranwala. He has been on the Red Book since 2023. He was involved in the June 2023 Libya/Greece shipwreck.

He had extorted Rs 2.5 million each from 29 deceased migrants’ families for sending them to Italy via the sea route from Libya. Tragically, the boat capsized, resulting in the loss of lives.

Similarly, another most-wanted trafficker Shafaqat Ali of Kot Bela was apprehended from Bahria Town, Rawalpindi.

The accused was also on Red Book. He was involved in the June 2023 Libya/Greece shipwreck and had extorted Rs 2.5 million each from the families of 10 migrants.

The FIA raiding team was led by Sub Inspector Irtaza Ansar Warraich.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2025