Two arrested in Libya boat tragedy case

Express Tribune

17-02-2025

ISLAMABAD:
In a major breakthrough in the investigation of the 2025 Libya boat tragedy, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Kohat Zone has arrested two members of an international human trafficking network.
The suspects, Habibur Rehman and Naveed Ahmed, were apprehended in a raid at Pusht Bazaar, Bajaur.
According to officials, the arrested individuals were part of a network operating alongside accomplices based in Italy, including Wajid Ali and Shah Faisal. The gang was involved in smuggling people to Europe through illegal channels. The tragic boat accident claimed the lives of 14 victims from Kurram, who had been lured into the perilous journey.
Investigators revealed that the suspects had defrauded a citizen named Shehzad Hussain of Rs3.7 million, promising to facilitate his travel to Europe. They, along with their accomplices, extorted large sums from multiple victims. Hussain, like many others, tragically lost his life in the boat disaster.
During the raid, authorities recovered four mobile phones containing crucial evidence, including videos, images, messages and bank transactions, which enabled the freezing of three bank accounts linked to the suspects.
Preliminary investigations further revealed that victims were detained in safe houses in Libya, where they faced physical abuse before being forced onto the ill-fated boat bound for Europe.
The FIA has launched an extensive probe into the case and is collaborating with Interpol to apprehend fugitive traffickers operating abroad. FIA Kohat Zone Director affirmed that the crackdown on those responsible for such tragedies is ongoing.
He stated that all available resources are being used to track and arrest human traffickers, and intelligence-based operations are being carried out to dismantle these networks.
"No one will be allowed to play with innocent lives," he asserted, adding that suspects will face the full force of the law based on solid evidence.
The Foreign Office last week confirmed that 16 Pakistani nationals had died in a boat accident off Libya's coast, with at least 10 still missing.
Smuggling Pakistanis
Five Pakistani travelers who refused to illegally travel to Europe by sea and returned to the country have exposed another gang involved in smuggling Pakistanis to Europe.
According to the FIA spokesperson, the immigration staff stationed at Karachi Airport interrogated five passengers who arrived from Mauritania. The passengers disclosed that an organised gang helped them and others to reach Europe via illegal means.
During the investigation, the passengers revealed that agents had made deals with them to smuggle them into Europe in exchange for Rs2.5 to 3.5 million per person.