TRIPOLI (LIBYA) (ITALPRESS/MNA) – Libyan authorities, in collaboration with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency (NCA), have arrested four individuals suspected of being involved in large-scale migrant smuggling operations. The arrests, which span several cities in Libya, are part of an ongoing effort to dismantle human trafficking networks operating in the Mediterranean region.
The most significant arrest took place on 12 March in Tripoli, where a man allegedly responsible for transporting hundreds of Syrian migrants across the Mediterranean was detained.
The individual, identified by National Crime Agency and Libyan security forces as a key player in a Syrian smuggling network, is believed to have facilitated the illegal movement of at least 2,000 migrants into Europe. Authorities also discovered evidence on his phone indicating that some of the migrants were headed for the United Kingdom.
In addition to the Tripoli arrest, two other individuals were apprehended earlier in March. On 10 March, a suspect was arrested in Tobruk, a port city in eastern Libya, for his role in smuggling migrants of various nationalities into Greece. The individual’s arrest follows months of investigation into a broader network that uses Libyan shores as a launching point for journeys across the Mediterranean.
Meanwhile, in January, two further arrests took place in the city of Sabratha, a known hub for people smuggling operations. A Sudanese national was caught attempting to transport 11 Iraqi Kurdish migrants to Europe. Additionally, a Syrian national was detained after being linked to an operation that organized the transportation of around 400 migrants, primarily via sea routes.
All four detainees are now facing prosecution by the Libyan Attorney General’s Office. The ongoing investigations into their activities suggest a complex network of smugglers who have exploited the chaos of Libya’s political instability to facilitate illegal migration. Authorities are working with international partners to identify further individuals and disrupt additional trafficking routes.
Rick Jones, Deputy Director of the NCA‘s International Operations, highlighted the importance of global cooperation in combating human trafficking and smuggling networks. “These arrests in Libya highlight the effectiveness of international cooperation in combating organised immigration crime. People smugglers show no regard for human life, cramming migrants into unseaworthy boats, risking their lives on perilous journeys,” said Jones. “This operation demonstrates that those who profit from this trade are being targeted and brought to justice, no matter where they operate.”
The Libyan arrests are part of a broader strategy to curb the rise of human trafficking, which remains a pressing issue for both Europe and North Africa. In recent months, there has been an intensification of efforts to disrupt smuggling rings, especially those operating across Libya’s porous borders and sprawling coastlines.
This operation follows the conviction of UK-based people smuggler Ahmed Ramadan Mohamad Ebid, who orchestrated the transportation of thousands of migrants across the Mediterranean. Ebid, who is responsible for facilitating the illegal crossings of approximately 3,800 migrants from North Africa to Italy, is scheduled for sentencing on 19 May 2025.
As investigations into the wider smuggling networks continue, authorities in Libya and Europe remain vigilant in their efforts to prevent further exploitation of vulnerable migrants. The successful cooperation between Libyan and UK law enforcement highlights the growing international resolve to dismantle criminal operations that endanger lives for profit.
For now, authorities are continuing to examine the broader scope of trafficking routes, with an eye toward prosecuting those behind the operation while working to ensure safer migration pathways in the future.
– Photo IPA Agency –
(ITALPRESS)
