ISLAMABAD: Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and the Hellenic Police of Greece have agreed to cooperate against human trafficking and migrant smuggling by formalizing a memorandum of understanding (MoU), Pakistan state media reported on Saturday, months after a deadly shipwreck killed Pakistanis among hundreds off Greece.
On June 14, a weathered trawler foundered in the vicinity of Greece's Peloponnese peninsula, with approximately 750 individuals from Pakistan, Egypt and Syria aboard who were bound for Italy from Libya. Only 104 of them were rescued.
Officials said more than 350 Pakistanis were among the passengers who were escaping challenging economic circumstances at home for a brighter future in Europe.
The agreement between Pakistan's FIA and the Greek police would allow for the exchange of critical information on human smugglers, the state-run Radio Pakistan reported.
"This strategic collaboration will enable the exchange of critical information, bolster mutual support in criminal investigations, and promote capacity-building endeavours between the two agencies," the report read.
"This significant accord shows the dedication of both agencies to combat transnational crimes."
Following the June 14 incident, Pakistani officials had vowed to take decisive measures against human smugglers, prompting the FIA to initiate a campaign against the illicit operators.
Last week, the FIA also announced the arrest of a "most wanted" suspect in the Greek migrant shipwreck.
“The most wanted human trafficker involved in the Greek boat accident has been arrested by the FIA’s Gujrat circle,” the anti-crime agency said in a statement.
The individual in question, Javed Hussain, had been sought by the FIA in seven different cases.
