In an effort to combat human trafficking, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Anti-Human Trafficking and Smuggling Wing (AHS) have arrested 16 human traffickers from different parts of Punjab following the Greece boat tragedy.
While Azad Kashmir police have apprehended 11 human smugglers across various areas of the region while it has registered cases against 26 suspects.
The main accused involved in human trafficking was arrested by police in Charhoi tehsil of Kotli district, last night.
The suspect Rahim alias Babu played a pivotal role in facilitating the transportation of people from Kashmir to different agents involved in human trafficking.
It was learned that the suspect received Rs3.6 million to perform the illicit job.
According to the Prime Minister’s Office, the Prime Minister of Azad Kashmir Chaudhry Anwar-ul-Haq has ordered the police and law enforcement agencies to deal strictly and adopt zero tolerance against the culprits involved in human trafficking.
Similarly, six suspects were apprehended from the Gujrat region, eight were arrested in the Gujranwala region and two were held from Lahore.
Sources revealed that further arrests and raids are expected as the investigation moves forward.
The FIA has coordinated with the Azad Kashmir police and asked to thoroughly investigate the accused individuals in two days before they are handed over to the agency for further legal proceedings.
