The Khoms Security Directorate announced the arrest of a migrant worker network involved in drug trafficking and prostitution. The operation took place inside a residence in the Maqoulah area of the Souq Al-Khamis region.
The network comprised 11 individuals, including six women and five men of various African nationalities, as stated by the Directorate.
The accused individuals confessed to the charges against them and admitted to entering Libya illegally without following proper legal procedures.
Following their apprehension, the suspects were taken into custody, and their statements were recorded before being referred to the public prosecution.
The Khoms Security Directorate issued a warning to citizens, urging caution against harboring migrant workers without adhering to legal procedures.
Last week, Libyan security authorities deported a total of 111 immigrants from Al-Marj city in 2023, as reported by the Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency.
According to the agency’s statement, the migrants deported included 39 Chadians, 35 Sudanese, 25 Egyptians, and eight Bangladeshis. As well as individuals from Nigeria, Algeria, and Ghana.
The statement also highlighted that 58 of the deported migrants were infected with Hepatitis C and B viruses, and Aids.
Notably, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) disclosed that in the year 2023, a staggering number of 17,025 migrants were rescued at sea, and subsequently returned to Libya. Among these, 1,234 migrants were intercepted and repatriated just in the previous week, as per the IOM’s latest report.
This situation is further complicated by the tragic loss of life, with the IOM documenting that 974 migrants died, and another 1,372 were reported missing in 2023 while attempting the perilous journey across the central Mediterranean route near the Libyan coast. This migration route has been a hotspot for illegal crossings, especially by African migrants, since the instability following the fall of Moammar Gaddafi’s regime in 2011.
In a related development within Libya, the Benghazi Major Anti-Illegal Immigration Department reported the deportation of 8,851 migrants of various nationalities during the same period. This number included 705 migrants diagnosed with hepatitis C and HIV, along with 1,641 facing security restrictions and deportation by the public prosecutor.
The deportations were carried out through two major exit points: 4,174 migrants were deported via the Benina International Airport, and 3,241 via the Amsaad land border.
These figures highlight the ongoing migration crisis that Libya continues to confront amidst its post-Gaddafi era challenges. The situation not only raises humanitarian concerns but also underscores issues of regional security, governance, and the need for international collaboration to address the root causes and consequences of unwanted migration. The efforts of Libyan authorities and international bodies like the IOM remain critical in managing this crisis, which poses enduring challenges to Libya and its Mediterranean neighbours.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Moammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.