The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has uncovered multiple gangs involved in illegally transporting Pakistanis to Spain via dangerous sea routes. In a major operation at Islamabad Airport, FIA immigration officials interrogated seven returning passengers and apprehended a key facilitator linked to the smuggling network.
According to Dawn News, an FIA spokesperson confirmed that the arrested suspect, identified as Abdul Ghaffar, was taken into custody upon his arrival in Pakistan. The seven passengers, identified as Mehtab, Muhammad Khaliq, Gul Shamir, Waseem, Ali Hassan, Bilawal Iqbal, and Umar Farooq, hail from Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Sialkot, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, and Rawalpindi.
The passengers arrived at Islamabad Airport on flights QR 614 and EK 612 after attempting to reach Spain illegally through Dubai and Senegal. Initial investigations revealed that they had paid hefty sums to human smugglers, who facilitated their journey via Dubai, Ethiopia, and later Senegal, from where they were to be transported to Spain by sea.
The investigation also uncovered that these agents subjected the victims to physical abuse. Authorities are now gathering more information about the network of agents and facilitators, who are reportedly based in various regions of Punjab.
This crackdown comes in the wake of a tragic boat accident earlier this month, in which a vessel attempting to reach Spain via West Africa capsized, resulting in the deaths of 50 people, including 44 Pakistanis. The FIA’s latest operation highlights the ongoing issue of human trafficking and the dangers faced by those attempting illegal migration.
