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Pakistan names 143 most-wanted human smugglers, down from 156, in 2025 list

Gujranwala remains the primary hotspot with 70 suspects, while new trafficking activity emerged in Kohat zone

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Ali Hamza

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Ali; a journalist with 3 years of experience, working in Newspaper. Worked in Field, covered Big Legal Constitutional and Political Events in Pakistan since 2022. Graduate of DePaul University, Chicago.

Pakistan names 143 most-wanted human smugglers, down from 156, in 2025 list

FIA's 2025 Red Book, an official list of the nation's most-wanted human smugglers and traffickers.

FIA_Agency / X

Authorities arrested 51 from the previous list, about one-third

Suspects linked to boat disasters that have killed hundreds

Pakistan's top federal law enforcement body for investigating serious crimes has released its 2025 'Red Book', an official list of the nation's most-wanted human smugglers and traffickers. The list names 143 suspects, down from 156 in the previous edition.

The update, compiled by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)'s Anti-Human Smuggling Directorate, shows a decline in fugitives as authorities report dozens of arrests over the past year. These criminal networks typically charge desperate migrants thousands of dollars for perilous sea and land routes toward Europe, often through Iran, Libya, and North Africa.

According to the report, 51 individuals from the 2023 list were arrested, one was removed, and 104 were retained. Another 39 new names were added, bringing the total to 143. The arrests represent about one-third of those previously listed, suggesting stepped-up enforcement, though the continued addition of new entries shows that smuggling networks remain active and adaptable.

For the first time in recent years, the FIA's Red Book also includes seven women among the most-wanted traffickers and smugglers, indicating the growing involvement of female facilitators in transnational smuggling operations.

Uneven reduction

The provincial breakdown reveals uneven trends. Lahore's list fell from 20 names in 2023 to 14 this year, while Islamabad's dropped from 34 to 25. Karachi recorded a smaller decrease, from 12 to 10. Gujranwala remains the primary hotspot, with 70 suspects compared to 71 last year. Kohat zone, which had no entries previously, now lists six suspects, reflecting either newly identified trafficking routes or expanded intelligence coverage.

The FIA said those arrested from the previous Red Book included several high-profile figures allegedly linked to cross-border smuggling syndicates. The agency has linked some suspects to deadly maritime tragedies, including the 2024 Greece boat disaster that killed dozens of migrants, and to smuggling routes running through North Africa and southern Europe.

Grim backdrop

The grim backdrop to this year's Red Book is a series of migrant boat disasters that have claimed hundreds of Pakistani lives in recent years. According to multiple reports and official statements, at least 450 Pakistani nationals have been confirmed dead or remain missing in major human trafficking-related boat accidents between 2023 and 2025.

In June 2023, approximately 300 Pakistanis were killed or went missing after the Adriana shipwreck off the coast of Greece, one of the deadliest migrant boat disasters in recent history. In December 2024, at least 40 Pakistanis were reported dead or missing when four vessels sank in the central Mediterranean.

In January 2025, a Spain-based migrant rights group confirmed that 44 Pakistanis drowned when a vessel capsized off Mauritania's coast while en route to the Canary Islands. The most recent tragedy occurred in February 2025, when at least 16 Pakistanis died and another 10 went missing after a boat sank off Libya. Officials caution that the true toll is likely higher, as many cases go unreported or undocumented.

Transnational involvement

Pakistan, a South Asian country of approximately 240 million people, has become a major source country for irregular migration, with thousands of its citizens attempting dangerous journeys to Europe and other destinations each year in search of economic opportunities.

The Red Book also highlights suspects believed to be operating from overseas, including in the Gulf and European countries, underscoring the transnational nature of these networks. Pakistani nationals continue to pay smugglers thousands of dollars for perilous journeys toward Europe, often traveling via Iran, Libya, and North Africa.

The FIA places its findings within Pakistan's broader anti-smuggling framework, citing the National Action Plan, the Prevention of Smuggling of Migrants Act (2018), and the Prevention of Trafficking in Persons Act (2018). The agency describes the publication as a key tool for coordination between domestic law enforcement and international partners.

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