GUJRAT: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) claimed to have arrested another suspect involved in human trafficking, allegedly linked to the recent boat capsize tragedy off Greece.

FIA Gujranwala Zone has so far lodged at least 22 cases against the human traffickers linked to the boat tragedy occurring around 10 days ago, arresting eight of the suspectsso far during the ongoing crackdown.

As per officials, Gujrat FIA Crime circle arrested a suspected human trafficker, Saleem Akhtar, a resident of Kasib village. The suspect was booked in case No 405/24 under sections 22(b) of the Emigration Ordinance (EO) 1979, read with section 3/6 of the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act (PSMA) 2018.

As per the prosecution, the suspect, along with some accomplices, was running a human trafficking ring. He allegedly extorted Rs2.8m from the family of a boat tragedy victim, Rehman Ali, a resident of Kamala Chak, on the pretext of securing an employment visa of Greece.

The agency has also arrested another suspected human trafficker,J aved Ashraf of Mor Emanabad, Gujranwala, in case number 1109/2024 registered under section 17/22 of the EO 1979.