TRIPOLI, Libya: Libyan authorities have made significant strides in tackling human trafficking within the country’s southwest, according to a statement from the Attorney General’s office.
On Saturday, officials announced the dismantling of a major trafficking network, with one leader and ten members arrested. These individuals face serious charges, including murder, illegal detention, torture, and rape of migrants.
The investigation revealed disturbing abuses affecting approximately 1,300 migrants, involving forced detention, physical abuse, and extortion.
Libya has been in turmoil since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the fall of Muammar Qaddafi, resulting in a power vacuum filled by rival governments and militias. Amidst this chaos, human traffickers have operated with relative impunity, sending thousands of migrants across the Mediterranean to Europe, with many lives lost in the perilous journey.
