In a major breakthrough, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has captured Mohammad Iqbal, the prime suspect behind the deadly 2023 boat disaster off Greece, which saw over 250 Pakistanis lose their lives. The arrest came after Iqbal arrived at Lahore airport on Monday.
The tragic event unfolded in June 2023 when a dangerously overcrowded boat, carrying hundreds of migrants, sank off the coast of Pylos in Greece. Among the victims were 262 Pakistanis, making this one of the Mediterranean’s deadliest boat tragedies. The incident shed light on the perilous routes migrants take in search of a better life in Europe.
Iqbal, who had been residing in Libya since 2013, is alleged to have run a human trafficking ring, smuggling Pakistani citizens to Europe via boat. The FIA uncovered illegal transactions amounting to Rs80 million ($287,356) linked to his bank accounts. He now faces multiple charges in connection with these illegal activities.
The FIA’s crackdown on human trafficking is intensifying, with Director Sarfraz Virk promising strict penalties for traffickers. The agency is also working closely with the families of the victims. In a wider effort, red notices were issued for 20 foreign traffickers involved in the Greece boat tragedy.
This incident is part of a broader, ongoing crisis, as migrants, many fleeing economic hardship in Pakistan, continue to risk their lives on treacherous journeys in hopes of a better future in Europe.
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PRESS UPDATE