The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has arrested a most-wanted human smuggler, whose name was also mentioned in the Red Book from Gujranwala, reported 24NewsHD TV channel on Tuesday.
A spokesman of the Federal Investigation Agency said that after receiving credible information from the Director, a FIA team arrested a human smuggler, Shehbaz alias Hyderi, from the Kutcheri Zone. Shehbaz alias Hyderi was nominated in more than 16 cases.
The spokesman further revealed that Shehbaz collected Rs1 million each from innocent citizens after promising to send them to Italy, and his name was included in the Red Book/MWT 2026.
He was declared a proclaimed offender after 16 cases were filed against them according to the Immigration Ordinance 1979.
The spokesman said that Shehbaz provided fake visas of Serbia and Indonesia to different people.
He was involved in human smuggling in 2010. First, he shifted the innocent people through illegal routes to Iran and Turkey, and later sent them to Europe on boats.
The spokesman further said that the accused Shehbaz was also involved in kidnapping for ransom cases. In different cases, he collected amounts from victims' families after taking them hostage.
The FIA spokesman said that investigations are underway and more revelations will be unearthed soon.
Reporter: Zahid Iqbal Rana