A Tripoli appeals court has sentenced Abdulrahim Al-Fitouri Emsak, one of the region’s most notorious drug traffickers, to life imprisonment, along with a fine of 50,000 Libyan dinars. The ruling also strips him permanently of his civil rights and legal capacity.
The sentence was issued following Emsak’s conviction for large-scale drug trafficking operations within Libya. The case, according to a statement released by the Office of the Attorney General on Sunday, began after Libya’s Interpol office received extradition documents from its foreign counterpart. Libyan prosecutors launched a full investigation into Emsak’s activities.
Evidence presented during the inquiry revealed Emsak’s involvement in an organised criminal network that coordinated and facilitated the trafficking of narcotics into and across Libya.
After completing the investigation, the case was referred to the Tripoli Court of Appeal, which issued its final ruling in one of its recent sessions.
Emsak had previously been convicted in absentia in 2024 and sentenced to 15 years in prison. However, he was later arrested by Libya’s Special Deterrence Force for Combating Terrorism and Organised Crime on 24 May 2024, following a detailed tracking operation.
The arrest marked a significant success for Libyan law enforcement. Authorities say Emsak had operated for years across multiple African countries, leveraging a broad network of influence that enabled him to carry out extensive smuggling operations.
His capture and conviction are seen as a blow to transnational organised crime in North Africa and a key step towards restoring the rule of law in Libya.
