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Saturday February 15, 2025

FIA arrests suspected human smuggler linked to Morocco boat tragedy

Suspect, along with accomplices, attempted to smuggle the victim, Aamir Ali, to Spain

By Shakeel Anjum
January 24, 2025
The Federal Investigation Agency logo can be seen outside the FIA building in Islamabad. — FIA Website/File
The Federal Investigation Agency logo can be seen outside the FIA building in Islamabad. — FIA Website/File

ISLAMABAD: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a suspected human smuggler in connection with the Morocco boat tragedy during a raid from Sialkot.

The FIA, in collaboration with the Interpol, has intensified crackdown against human trafficking networks exploiting illegal ocean routes to smuggle individuals to other countries.

The FIA Gujranwala Zone arrested the suspect identified as Mohammad Aslam during a raid in Sialkot’s Sambrial area. The suspect, along with accomplices, attempted to smuggle the victim, Aamir Ali, to Spain. Initially, the victim was sent to Mauritania, later it was attempted to smuggle the victim to Spain via boat.

Forty-four Pakistanis had lost their lives in the boat tragedy earlier this month but Aamir Ali was rescued by Moroccan authorities. His name is included in the list issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The traffickers extorted 5.35 million rupees from the victim’s family.

Efforts are expected to accelerate further as Pakistan strengthens its ties with international law enforcement agencies, reaffirming its commitment to combating human trafficking and ensuring justice.

The FIA emphasised a renewed focus on dismantling human trafficking networks. Red notices, specifically targeting human traffickers, have been instrumental in these operations.

The DG FIA directed officials to strengthen collaborations with international organisations and accelerate efforts to arrest suspects worldwide. The agency aims to leverage technology and global partnerships to further combat transnational crimes.

The FIA’s actions reflect Pakistan’s commitment to combating organised crime, ensuring no criminal can evade justice on the global stage. Over the past year, 116 suspects involved in heinous crimes, including human trafficking, murder, robbery, and corruption, have been arrested. These operations highlight Pakistan’s determination to combat transnational crime and uphold justice, FIA Headquarters said on Thursday.

According to FIA’s NCB Interpol Pakistan, red notices were issued to track and apprehend individuals wanted for serious offenses. Arrests were made in collaboration with international law enforcement agencies and included suspects from multiple countries – the United Arab Emirates (UAE): 53 suspects, Saudi Arabia: 32 suspects, Oman: 6 suspects, Spain and Italy: 4 suspects each and other countries such as Switzerland, Germany, Greece, France, UK, Qatar, and Kyrgyzstan also contributed to the arrests, the FIA HQ maintained, adding that the arrested individuals were handed over to respective police departments, including – Punjab Police: 111 suspects, National Accountability Bureau (NAB): 2 suspects, FIA: 2 suspects, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police: 1 suspect.

In 2024 alone, the FIA issued 162 red notices targeting individuals implicated in serious crimes. Additionally, 7 yellow notices (used for locating missing persons) and 2 blue notices (to collect additional information about suspects) were issued. The Punjab police accounted for the majority with 131 red notices, followed by the FIA with 23 notices, several of which targeted human traffickers.

Director General FIA, Ahmed Ishaq Jahangir, praised the integration of modern tools like the Interpol Find System with Pakistan’s Integrated Border Management System (IBMS), calling it a “historic achievement.” The system has enhanced the efficiency of identifying fugitives, recovering missing persons, and exchanging critical information globally. This cutting-edge technology has improved the recovery of missing children and streamlined the arrest of wanted criminals internationally.

The DG FIA said there is no safe haven for fugitives wanted for serious crimes. NCB Interpol Pakistan is equipped with modern technology and maintains a 24/7 connection with the world.

The Interpol’s Find System has yielded remarkable results, facilitating the identification and arrest of criminals efficiently, he added. The DG directed that operation be stepped up against culprits involved in human trafficking. He instructed concerned authorities of the FIA to intensify operations against human traffickers and other criminals and to strengthen collaborations with international organisations. The DG asked the officials to utilise all available resources to apprehend fugitives and dismantle organised crime networks.

Pakistan has long grappled with the challenges of human trafficking and transnational crime. Recent high-profile boat accidents involving migrants have highlighted the need for robust action against traffickers exploiting vulnerable individuals.

These collaborative operations between the FIA and Interpol demonstrate a strategic effort to curb these criminal activities and ensure accountability on a global scale.