Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested two nationals in connection with the trafficking of migrants to Libya, following a deadly boat tragedy off the Libyan coast in 2023.
According to Pakistan Today, the arrests were carried out by the Anti-Money Laundering Circle in the city of Faisalabad, targeting individuals involved in exploiting desperate migrants hoping to reach Europe.
Authorities say the suspects extorted large sums of money from aspiring migrants by promising them fake employment opportunities and smuggling them to Libya through illegal channels. Victims were reportedly subjected to inhumane treatment, including detention and torture, in secret locations once they reached Libya.
Investigations revealed that the traffickers collected millions of Pakistani rupees under false pretences, claiming to secure job placements in Europe.
Speaking on behalf of the Anti-Money Laundering Circle, Director Sarfraz Khan Work described the arrests as a significant step forward in holding human traffickers accountable. He stressed that justice will be pursued and the law will take its full course.
The arrests follow increasing efforts by Pakistani authorities to clamp down on migrant smuggling networks after a string of high-profile cases linked to fatalities in the Mediterranean.
