Libya’s Law Enforcement Department, operating under the General Directorate of Security Operations, has detained 51 irregular migrants during a desert operation in the southwest of the country.
According to the Security Operations Department, the migrants—mostly from Niger and Chad—were found in remote desert areas and received initial humanitarian assistance, including field medical services, before being transferred to the migrant detention centre in Al-Assa for legal processing.
The operation involved patrol units sweeping through the Wadi Marsit and Nessma regions, where sudden checkpoints were established along unpaved and semi-desert roads in an effort to disrupt migrant movement routes.
This latest operation is part of Libya’s ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration flows across the Sahara Desert towards the Mediterranean coast. Authorities have stepped up surveillance in key transit areas as Libya remains a major route for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Security officials say the rugged terrain and remote location of these desert regions make them favoured routes for smuggling networks, which often exploit vulnerable migrants by promising passage to Europe.
The government continues to stress its commitment to controlling its southern borders, which are frequently used by human trafficking and smuggling groups to funnel migrants from sub-Saharan Africa towards the north.
The Al-Assa detention facility, where the migrants are now being held, is one of several centres operated by Libyan authorities to process and manage the large number of migrants transiting through the country.
International organisations have repeatedly raised concerns about the conditions in these centres, calling for increased oversight and support for vulnerable groups. Nonetheless, Libyan officials insist such operations are crucial to restoring order and enforcing immigration laws.
