ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Federal Investigative Agency (FIA) on Friday arrested six alleged human smugglers over their involvement in the Greece shipwreck tragedy last month that killed hundreds of Pakistanis, a spokesperson of the agency confirmed.
Witness accounts state from 400-750 people— illegal migrants— were crammed onto a 20 to 30-meter-long fishing vessel that capsized and sank on June 14 about 80 kilometers from the southern coastal Greek town of Pylos.
Hundreds of people from different nationalities, including Pakistanis, Egyptians, and Syrians, were aboard the ill-fated vessel. Data shared by the FIA last week said at least 209 Pakistanis lost their lives in the accident, prompting a large-scale crackdown ordered by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif against human smugglers. Over a dozen people have been arrested since last month in connection with the tragedy.
“FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle Gujrat arrested six persons in connection with the Greece ship tragedy in various operations,” a spokesperson of the FIA said in a statement. “The people smugglers were arrested from Kharian, Malakwal, Jehlum, Lahore, and Gujrat.”
The agency said the suspects lured victims in with fake promises of a better life in Europe, adding that they took Rs2.5 to 2.7 million ($9,100-9,835) from each person for providing passage on fishing vessels.
“The accused were working as a major smuggling ring,” the FIA spokesperson said. “Multiple cases have been registered against the arrested suspects, who were also in contact with a group of international smugglers.”
The FIA said that one of the smugglers, Aslam Dareekan, had previously provided passage to various Pakistanis to travel abroad illegally to several countries.
“The suspects transported people from Libya to Europe via ships,” the agency said. “Action against the suspects was taken based on information provided by relatives of the victims.”
The FIA said it is in touch with relatives of the victims of the Greece ship tragedy, adding that the agency was also seeking details of the suspects’ bank transactions.
“Through the suspects’ phone records, the agents’ mafia would be brought to the book,” the FIA spokesperson said.
A combination of political turmoil and an economy on the brink of collapse drives tens of thousands of Pakistanis to leave the country — legally and illegally each year.
Young men, primarily from eastern Punjab and northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, often use a route through Iran, Libya, Turkiye, and Greece to enter Europe.
