On Saturday, Libyan authorities successfully rescued seven Pakistani nationals who had been abducted by a known human trafficker in the city of Derna.
The operation, carried out by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) with support from the 166th Infantry Brigade, exposed a network of crimes including human trafficking, illegal alcohol production, and arms possession.
The hostages had been abducted 15 days earlier while attempting to secure passage to Italy through illegal migration routes. Investigations revealed that a Libyan national with a history of criminal activity and outstanding warrants was holding them captive.
The suspect had contacted the victims’ families, demanding a ransom of 300,000 Libyan dinars and threatening to kill one hostage every four days if the ransom was not paid.
Acting on intelligence, the CID located the suspect’s hideout in the Al-Bamba Bay area. After obtaining approval from the Public Prosecutor’s Office, the authorities coordinated a raid with military support.
During the operation, the security forces seized weapons, a short-range wireless communication device, and a significant quantity of homemade alcohol. The suspect and his family reportedly resisted the raid but were overpowered.
The hostages were successfully freed, but three individuals attempted to block the security forces’ exit with the seized items and were subsequently detained. The suspect admitted to threatening the hostages at gunpoint and forcing them to contact their families to demand ransom payments.
The case has been transferred to the Public Prosecutor’s Office, with charges including kidnapping, illegal arms possession, human trafficking, alcohol production, and resisting law enforcement.
This operation highlights the challenges Libya faces in combating human trafficking and organized crime. Libya has become a transit hub for migrants seeking to reach Europe, with criminal networks exploiting vulnerable individuals for profit.
The country’s instability and fragmented governance have made it a haven for such activities, but coordinated actions like this operation show the potential of Libyan security forces to disrupt these networks and protect victims.
