FIA re-arrests key suspect in Greece boat tragedy Usman Jajja

LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested Usman Jajja, the prime suspect in the Greece boat tragedy case.

According to the FIA, Jajja had escaped from Sialkot jail and had been hiding in Gilgit-Baltistan since then. Officials stated that Jajja was running an international human smuggling network. The Greece boat tragedy occurred on December 14 last year, resulting in the deaths of 40 Pakistanis. At the time of the incident, Jajja was in Sialkot jail on charges related to a brawl.

The FIA had informed the police about his custody in Sialkot jail, but Jajja secured bail in the case and subsequently fled. A manhunt had been underway since his escape.

The FIA Immigration Unit continued operation across the country. In another case, FIA has successfully intercepted a human trafficking attempt at Islamabad International Airport, exposing a network involved in smuggling Pakistani women to China under the guise of marriage.

Three suspects, identified as Shu Gui (Yusuf), Abdul Rehman, and Muhammad Nauman, were arrested while attempting to travel to China on flight CZ6034. A young Pakistani woman, who was being trafficked under the pretense of marriage, was also taken into protective custody.

Preliminary investigations reveal that the arrested individuals were part of an organized gang that facilitated marriages between Pakistani women and Chinese nationals, falsely promising employment opportunities. Several women were also found to be involved in this illicit operation.

The traffickers primarily targeted poor and vulnerable women, persuading them to marry Chinese men. Once the victims agreed, their personal data and documents were handed over to agents Abdul Rehman and Muhammad Nauman. These agents then collaborated with a Chinese operative named Paul, who arranged Chinese clients in exchange for large sums of money.

Further investigations revealed that the suspects had finalized a deal for Rs1 million with the victim’s mother. They had already paid her Rs150,000 and coerced the victim into signing a legal bond for a Rs1 million loan, intended for blackmail purposes.

The arrested suspects have been transferred to the Anti-Human Trafficking Unit in Islamabad for further investigation and legal proceedings, said the spokesperson to FIA.

While FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Lahore has conducted a major operation, arresting four illegal travel agents involved in human smuggling. The raid was carried out at Konain Travel & Tours in Lahore, resulting in the arrest of Muhammad Rashid, Aqdas Ali, Nazim, and Umar. Authorities recovered 101 Pakistani passports, 15 national identity cards, and two fake Malaysian visas from the suspects. Additionally, mobile phones and other records were seized as evidence.

The arrested individuals were illegally collecting passports and large sums of money from citizens, falsely promising overseas employment without a valid license. When questioned, they failed to provide satisfactory explanations regarding the recovered documents.

The operation was conducted on the orders of the Director FIA Lahore Zone, who stated that raids are ongoing to apprehend other members of the network. “The crackdown on human traffickers has been intensified, and the arrested suspects will face strict legal action,” the FIA Lahore Zone director affirmed.