The Libyan Attorney General’s Office announced the seizure of 128 kilograms of cocaine, stored in two warehouses for food supplies in the city of Al Bayda.
According to a statement from the office, these quantities originated from Ecuador and arrived at the port of Benghazi. The drug and narcotics prosecution within the jurisdiction of the North Benghazi Court conducted investigations into the matter.
With the cooperation of Benghazi’s maritime customs centre officers, the case was confirmed, and one of the suspects was apprehended and brought before the prosecution for interrogation.
The suspect admitted to being part of an organized criminal group that deliberately imported narcotics into Libya and engaged in trafficking multiple times with the assistance of a customs officer.
The prosecution decided to detain the apprehended suspect and the colluding officer involved with the organised criminal group, while judicial authorities were instructed to pursue the remaining accomplices in the criminal acts.
Earlier this month, Libyan Anti-Narcotics Agency, in collaboration with the Libyan National Army, intercepted a substantial cocaine shipment at Benghazi’s seaport, marking the country’s largest seizure of the drug to date. Valued at over 224 million Libyan dinars, the operation was initiated following a tip from the Saudi Arabian Drug Enforcement Directorate about a suspicious shipment from Ecuador, purportedly containing bananas, on the 29th of February 2024.
An investigative team was promptly assembled to scrutinize the shipment, leading to the discovery of approximately 128 kg of raw cocaine, estimated to yield 640 kg when diluted, concealed within the container floors. This find was facilitated by the use of sniffer dogs and an X-ray scanner, after the containers had initially been cleared through inspection and health protocols.
Authorities have detained one individual, identified as a member of the customs service, for alleged involvement in the smuggling operation. The investigation continues as efforts to dismantle the remaining network persist.
Additionally, the Libyan Attorney General’s Office reported the seizure of over 8 million Pregabalin pills last month, concealed in a shipping container from India at the Port of Benghazi. This operation underscores the Libyan authorities’ commitment to combating drug trafficking and the challenges faced in preventing the influx of illegal substances.
