On Wednesday, the Libyan National Army (LNA) announced a successful security operation carried out by units from the 676th Infantry Battalion, targeting a hideout used by transnational criminal networks operating near Libya’s southern border.
According to a statement from the LNA’s Media Division, the operation led to the arrest of a large number of individuals involved in human trafficking, drug smuggling, and other illegal cross-border activities.
Those apprehended are reportedly of various African nationalities. In addition to the arrests, Libyan forces confiscated a significant cache of weapons, ammunition, and several off-road desert vehicles commonly used for smuggling operations.
The raid was part of the LNA’s ongoing mission to secure Libya’s southern frontier, which has long been a hotspot for organized crime due to porous borders and limited state control. The army emphasized that these criminal groups not only pose a threat to Libya’s internal stability but also jeopardize the broader security of the region.
The hideout, used as a base of operations for various illegal enterprises, was being monitored for weeks before the raid. The army’s swift action neutralized a key node in the smuggling network that has exploited the remote desert terrain for illicit trade and human trafficking routes stretching into neighboring countries.
Military officials stressed that the operation is part of a broader security strategy aimed at dismantling organized crime networks and reestablishing control over neglected border zones. They reaffirmed the army’s determination to confront threats to Libya’s sovereignty and prevent criminal actors from using southern Libya as a corridor for destabilizing activities.
Security experts and local leaders have welcomed the operation, calling for continued coordination with neighboring countries and regional partners to ensure that transnational criminal elements are denied safe haven and financial lifelines.
The LNA concluded its statement by pledging to continue such operations, signaling a broader campaign to reinforce state authority and restore security across Libya’s border regions.