The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Immigration Circle has arrested a high-profile human smuggler, Amjad Ali, who had been on the agency’s red list for 17 years. Ali, from Gujjar Khan, was apprehended at Islamabad Airport. A case against him was registered in 2007 by the Anti-Human Trafficking Circle in Rawalpindi.

He had fled the country after committing visa fraud and was subsequently placed on a stop list, leading to his arrest. He has been transferred to the Rawalpindi Anti-Human Trafficking Circle for further investigation.

In a separate operation, FIA officials in Faisalabad arrested Ghulam Dastgir, a notorious human smuggler involved in illegally transporting Pakistani citizens to Europe via sea routes. His arrest followed the earlier apprehension of his accomplice, Abdul Rehman, whose information led to Dastgir’s capture. Both men are part of an international human smuggling ring that facilitates passage from Libya to Europe.

The FIA spokesperson stated that the suspects defrauded seven victims of a total of 27.3 million rupees, promising them passage to Europe. The victims were initially sent to Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas before being transported to Libya, from where they were to be taken to Italy and Greece by boat.

Authorities seized crucial evidence from the suspects’ mobile phones, including communication records with victims and other agents, as well as financial transaction records. The FIA is conducting further raids to apprehend other members of the smuggling ring.

The Director of the Faisalabad FIA Zone stated that a crackdown is underway against those involved in the Greece boat tragedy, with special teams formed to arrest those responsible. He emphasized that those who endanger innocent lives will be brought to justice and receive appropriate punishment.