ISLAMABAD: In a major move to combat human trafficking, the Headquarters of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has released a “Red Book” containing the names and details of more than a hundred “most wanted” human smugglers. The publication comes amid an intensified nationwide crackdown aimed at dismantling networks that exploit vulnerable individuals seeking a better life abroad.
According to the FIA, the list comprises 137 individuals, with a significant concentration of suspects in Punjab province. Gujranwala leads with 70 suspects, followed by Islamabad with 25, Lahore with 14, and Faisalabad with 13.
The FIA, which is mandated to handle a range of crimes including human trafficking and immigration violations, stated that the new publication is a “key step” in strengthening its efforts against human smuggling networks. The agency described the Red Book as an important resource for law enforcement, stakeholders, and the public. The release of the list is part of a broader crackdown on agents who lure ‘naive’ Pakistanis with the promise of a better life in Europe, often sending them on perilous journeys. These routes have been linked to numerous tragedies, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by migrants. Last year alone, a record 10,457 migrants died while trying to reach Spain, with most of the fatalities occurring on the perilous Atlantic route from West Africa to the Canary Islands.
The human cost of these journeys was further underscored by two recent tragedies. In January, a boat carrying 86 migrants, including 22 Pakistanis, capsized off the coast of Morocco. This incident was preceded by one of the deadliest maritime disasters in recent history in June 2023, when a vessel sank off the coast of Greece, resulting in the deaths of hundreds of migrants, including 262 Pakistanis.
In its ongoing efforts, the FIA has made several arrests recently. Last month, five suspects involved in smuggling people to Iran and Turkiye were apprehended. Prior to that, five others were arrested in Gujranwala and Gujrat for their alleged involvement in human smuggling and defrauding citizens.