Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested two men on Sunday in connection with a recent boat tragedy off the coast of Greece that claimed the lives of at least five Pakistani nationals.
The tragedy occurred near the Greek island of Gavdos last week. The issue of illegal migration to Europe gained heightened attention last year when hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis, drowned after an overcrowded vessel capsized off the Greek coastal town of Pylos.
The FIA reported that Muhammad Aslam and Saeed Ahmed were apprehended in separate operations under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s directive to combat human trafficking.
Aslam, identified as a key member of an international human smuggling network, allegedly orchestrated the ill-fated journey, arranging for Pakistani migrants to travel to Libya before boarding a boat to Greece.
The FIA revealed that Aslam extorted Rs8.5 million ($30,660) from victims by promising them safe passage to Europe. He was tracked and arrested using advanced technology in Gujranwala.
Saeed Ahmed was arrested in the Gujrat district of Punjab. He is accused of creating fake travel documents and charging large sums for his services.
