Italian police have arrested three Pakistani nationals accused of facilitating illegal immigration, following a request from Pakistani judicial authorities. The arrests were made in the cities of Turin, Catanzaro, and Brescia.
The suspects are reportedly linked to the June 14, 2023, shipwreck off Pylos, Greece, which claimed the lives of hundreds of Pakistani migrants. The operation was carried out by Italy’s State Police in coordination with the International Police Cooperation Service.
Appellate courts validated their detention, while authorities continue to search for three more suspects involved in the same case.
Investigators revealed that the suspects smuggled migrants from Pakistan through Libya, using the Central Mediterranean route to reach Europe. They are also believed to be part of a criminal network that illegally secured work visas for the migrants, bypassing EU regulations.