Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) said on Thursday it had arrested a “most wanted” human smuggler accused of sending migrants to Europe via Libya’s dangerous sea route, as authorities intensify a crackdown following deadly boat tragedies involving Pakistanis.
The suspect, identified as Waqas Ali – also known as Waqas Butt – was arrested in Gujrat district and was listed in the interior ministry’s “Red Book” of most-wanted human smugglers, the FIA said in a statement.
“A human smuggler listed at serial number 84 in the interior ministry’s Red Book, Waqas Ali alias Waqas Butt, has been arrested in Gujrat,” the FIA said.
“The accused was involved in sending citizens to Greece via Libya through illegal sea routes and was wanted in four cases,” it added.
Libya remains a key transit hub for migrants attempting to reach Europe on overcrowded and unsafe boats.
Separately, Croatian emergency crews on Wednesday rescued around 30 migrants stranded in marshland near a river while crossing the country’s border with Bosnia, officials said.
Amid fears some may have died during the crossing, searches continued through the area, but no bodies were immediately found.
Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenkovic told a government session it was believed the migrants’ boats had flipped overnight after hitting marshy part of the river, leaving them stuck in a remote area.
“At this stage, there are no confirmations of fatalities. Everyone who has been pulled from the river is safe and receiving care,” Plenkovic said.
According to the interior ministry, eight people were taken to the hospital, mostly suffering from hypothermia.
The group were mainly from Afghanistan, Pakistan, India and Bangladesh, Interior Minister Davor Bozinovic told reporters.