Major human trafficking ring dismantled in Libya

Libyan authorities have dismantled a human trafficking and migrant smuggling network, the country's Attorney General's office said on Saturday.

One of the network's leaders and 10 “illegal migrants” who are accused of murder, illegal detention, torture, and rape have been arrested, a statement said.

The crackdown resulted in the rescue of 1,300 migrants who had been subjected to severe human rights breaches, including forced detention, torture and extortion for their release.

The operation, led by the General Directorate of Security Operations and supported by military units from the Joint Forces-South, was carried out in three crucial locations in the country's south-west.

A video published by the Attorney General's office showed security forces breaking into what appeared to be a warehouse as jubilant migrants jumped to them, including women and children. Those rescued showed signs of having been tortured.

In late 2022, the International Criminal Court's prosecutor Karim Khan announced his office had joined a coalition of nations investigating human trafficking in Libya, which frequently serves as a transit point for migrants looking to reach Europe. In May last year, the ICC said four new arrest warrants have been issued for people involved in crimes committed in Libya since 2011.