Unraveling the People Smuggling Network Behind Atlantic Migrant Tragedies

This investigation follows the exploits of Fadi Gujjar, a people smuggler linked to a migrant boat disaster where over 50 lost their lives. Utilizing social media and underground networks, Gujjar capitalizes on desperate aspirations, enabling distressing journeys across perilous routes.

Tracking the Tragic Journey of Migrants Bound for Europe

In January, a migrant vessel found itself stranded off the coast of North Africa, having endured 14 harrowing days at sea. Tragically, 50 individuals perished during this voyage, many misled by people smugglers who promised them safe passage to Europe. BBC Verify has meticulously tracked one such trafficker, Fadi Gujjar, uncovering insights about his operations that span three continents.

A TikTok video, set against a backdrop of Punjabi rap music, features Gujjar alongside two cousins, Sufian Ali and Atif Shahzad, enjoying camaraderie at a beachside restaurant in Mauritania's capital, Nouakchott. Despite the light-hearted scene, this image starkly contrasts with the dire outcome that awaited the three men following Gujjar’s deceit.

Within just a month of the video being shared, both Ali and Shahzad were tragically killed while attempting to reach Europe, having been sold false promises by Gujjar. Currently evading authorities, Gujjar was recently identified as a significant player in the smuggling operation and is wanted by Pakistan's Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for his involvement in the disaster.

Gujjar hails from Jaurah, a region in Pakistan's Punjab state. Although he operates under multiple aliases, including Khawar Hassan, his online footprint is cautious—favoring a limited array of polished videos rather than overt advertisements of his illicit activities. His primary mode of attracting clients appears to be through local connections and private referrals.

Currently based in Istanbul, Turkey, Gujjar has established a significant presence in Mauritania, recently identified as a focal point for people smuggling operations due to increased restrictions on alternative routes. According to the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), the year has already witnessed the deaths or disappearances of 170 migrants—14 of them children—along this deadly route.

The voyage from Mauritania to the Canary Islands—a Spanish territory—has become a gamble for many aspirational Pakistanis. Reports reveal that many families risk their life's savings to fund these treacherous journeys, averaging approximately $13,000 per individual to Gujjar.

As there are no direct travel routes from Pakistan to Mauritania, migrants often transit through countries like Ethiopia or various Middle Eastern nations, eventually reaching Senegal before entering Mauritania. Tracking Gujjar's movements reveals that he has also navigated similar pathways, arriving in Dakar on several occasions over the past year.

Survivors describe how, upon arriving in Nouakchott, they were sequestered in "safe houses," which serve as clandestine holding areas controlled by smugglers. Nearby incidents confirm that Gujjar used various properties for these dubious purposes.

The migrant boat embarked on its ill-fated journey on January 2, beginning a torturous three-day trek that soon turned into weeks adrift at sea. Survivors recounted their relentless battle against starvation, dehydration, and the crew's abuse, culminating in the tragic deaths of Ali and Shahzad, who were reportedly beaten by their captors.

After being rescued by a passing vessel, it was found that 15 bodies lay aboard the migrant boat, while 35 others were unaccounted for, presumed lost at sea. Following these events, Pakistani authorities have identified Gujjar among ten smugglers implicated in the tragedy, yet, as of now, he remains at large.

As investigations unfold, Gujjar's family members are facing legal repercussions in Pakistan for allegedly assisting him in his smuggling operations. Despite the aftermath of the boat disaster, reports suggest that Gujjar continues to facilitate journeys under the radar, revealing the persistent challenge authorities face in combating this human trafficking crisis.