Libyan authorities say they have raided a secret prison in a southeastern city used by human traffickers and freed at last 156 African migrants – including 15 women and five children.

Amid the economic backlash of the coronavirus pandemic, vulnerable communities in the North African region have increasingly fallen prey to criminal gangs, finding themselves trapped between unemployment and the risk of exploitation in countries located along trafficking routes. 

The Tripoli Interior Ministry reported 353 cases of premeditated murder, 242 kidnappings and 2,346 other crimes in 2020. It says the figures are for the whole of Libya.

Libya’s Eastern-based authorities in Tobruk have freed 32 Egyptians who were kidnapped by criminal gangs, Egyptian newspaper Al Youm Al Sabei reported citing a Libyan security source.

The Minister of Interior of the Government of National Accord (GNA), Fathi Bashagha, revealed a large-scale operation to be launched by the security and military authorities to eradicate militants and human traffickers acting contrary to the law in Libya.

Libya’s internationally recognized government says it has detained a former coast guard commander sanctioned by the United Nations for human trafficking and accused of sinking migrant boats.

It was just before dawn on 11 September when Stephen Donkoh was rescued alongside 113 people off the coast of Libya. They had already spent two days and three nights adrift on a rubber dinghy when the Open Arms humanitarian rescue vessel spotted them in the pitch-dark night. Many said …

The US State Department renewed calls for a political solution in Libya as it slapped a Libyan exporter and several others with sanctions over fuel and drug smuggling out of the war-torn country.

The 30 migrants killed by traffickers in Libya on Wednesday were abducted while crossing the country and then tortured to extract a ransom, Bangladesh’s foreign ministry has said, citing a survivor.

The family of a Libyan smuggler killed by migrants have taken revenge by killing 26 Bangladeshis and four Africans, the country’s UN-recognised government said Thursday.