Libyan security forces have dismantled a cross-border smuggling network attempting to traffic unlicensed and unsafe medicines into Libya from Egypt. The operation was executed by the General Criminal Investigation Department – Amsaad Branch – during a meticulously planned nighttime ambush near the border.
According to security sources, the operation was carried out under the directives of Major General Ahmed Al-Shamikh, Head of the Criminal Investigation Department, as part of a wider strategy aimed at strengthening pre-emptive border control and combating organized smuggling.
Authorities confirmed that six individuals were arrested while transporting six boxes of human medicines hidden inside shoulder sacks. Laboratory analysis revealed that the seized pharmaceuticals were unsafe for human consumption and of unknown origin.
The department stated that the operation was the result of extensive surveillance and field monitoring of smuggling movements across unpaved desert routes along the Libyan-Egyptian border. The detained suspects were transferred to the Amsaad branch headquarters for further investigation before being referred to the competent Public Prosecution Office.
The Criminal Investigation Department reaffirmed its commitment to intensifying security operations and countering cross-border trafficking networks that threaten public health and safety in Libya.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The county has for years been split between rival administrations.
Libya’s economy, heavily reliant on oil, has suffered due to the ongoing conflict. The instability has led to fluctuations in oil production and prices, impacting the global oil market and Libya’s economy.
The conflict has led to a significant humanitarian crisis in Libya, with thousands of people killed, and many more displaced. Migrants and refugees using Libya as a transit point to Europe have also faced dire conditions.
The planned elections for December 2021 were delayed due to disagreements over election laws and the eligibility of certain candidates. This delay has raised concerns about the feasibility of a peaceful political transition.
Despite the ceasefire, security remains a significant concern with sporadic fighting and the presence of mercenaries and foreign fighters. The unification of the military and the removal of foreign forces are crucial challenges.