Libya’s Customs Authority has thwarted an attempt to smuggle a large sum of foreign currency out of the country through Mitiga International Airport in Tripoli, seizing more than €64,000 from a Libyan passenger bound for Turkey.
In an official statement, the Customs Authority said that the airport’s General Investigation Unit identified the suspect while he was boarding a shuttle bus transporting passengers to the aircraft. A subsequent inspection revealed that the traveler was carrying €64,800 in cash, which he allegedly intended to smuggle out of Libya in violation of national laws.
Customs officials confirmed that the incident constitutes a clear breach of Libya’s Customs Law No. 10 of 2010, as well as Law No. 1 of 2005 governing banking and currency regulations. Both laws impose strict controls on the movement of foreign currency across Libya’s borders to protect the national financial system and prevent illicit capital flows.
The authority added that all legal procedures were immediately taken against the suspect. He was referred, along with the seized funds, to the Partial Prosecution for Anti-Corruption Crimes in Tripoli to complete the investigation and determine potential charges.
Libyan authorities have intensified monitoring and inspection measures at airports and border crossings amid ongoing concerns over currency smuggling, money laundering, and the illegal outflow of foreign exchange. Such practices have been widely blamed for exacerbating Libya’s liquidity shortages and undermining the stability of the national economy.
The Customs Authority reiterated its commitment to enforcing the law, safeguarding public funds, and strengthening oversight at ports of entry, stressing that any attempts to smuggle currency or violate financial regulations will be met with firm legal action.
