Notorious Libyan human trafficker, Abdel-Rahman Al-Bidja was released by the Public Prosecution on Sunday.
Al-Bidja has been on the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee list since June 2018, for his involvement in human trafficking and fuel smuggling. He was also subject to a special bulletin by INTERPOL, and an arrest warrant issued in April 2019 by the Tripoli Public Prosecution Office. All were given on similar charges of human trafficking and fuel smuggling.
A number of international and local bodies welcomed the arrest of Al-Bidja last year, calling for the need for a fair, transparent, and speedy trial for him. The United Nations Support Mission In Libya (UNSMIL) welcomed the arrest of Al-Bidja, calling it an important step towards ensuring justice for thousands of vulnerable Libyans, and migrants alike.
Al-Bidja has a long record of human trafficking crimes in western Libya. Born in 1990 in the city of Zawiya, he worked as a lieutenant officer assigned by the Government of National Accord (GNA), to head the Coast Guard in the western region. He is also the head of Zawiya’s most notorious militia, known for its human trafficking activities.