ISLAMABAD: Human smugglers have developed three new routes to illegally transport Pakistanis to Europe following tighter restrictions on traditional “Dunki” migration pathways, according to Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) sources.
Officials said arrested human smugglers revealed that the new routes pass through Malaysia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Uzbekistan, Belarus, Mauritania and Senegal.
According to the FIA sources, one route involves sending migrants to Malaysia on valid visas before moving them through Egypt and Libya into Europe.
A second route takes migrants to Uzbekistan, from where they are transported to Belarus and then illegally cross into Poland via difficult land routes.
The third route allegedly sends migrants to Mauritania and Senegal, where they board boats bound for Spain’s semi-autonomous islands. From the Canary Islands, they are then smuggled into mainland Spain. The Canary Islands lie about 100 kilometres off the northwest coast of Africa.
Following the disclosure of these new routes, authorities have intensified screening of passengers travelling to the identified countries.
FIA officials said travelers suspected of attempting illegal migration are subjected to detailed questioning and may be offloaded. Dozens of passengers have already been prevented from boarding flights on suspicion of intending to use the new smuggling routes.
