A military force based in Tripoli reported on Tuesday that three of its members were killed in clashes with smugglers and drug traffickers in the desert near the Algerian border.
The force, known as the 444 Brigade, stated that the fierce fighting lasted for hours and resulted in the thwarting of an attempt to smuggle approximately five million narcotic pills.
The 444 Brigade patrols the southern regions of the city and other towns to combat smuggling, and it is one of the most powerful military units in Tripoli.
Smugglers have profited immensely by exploiting the security vacuum in Libya since the NATO-backed uprising in 2011 that overthrew Muammar Gaddafi.
The brigade posted verified footage on its Facebook page showing desert patrols and stacks of cardboard boxes with samples of white and red pills on top.
The footage also displayed two suspected smugglers kneeling with their hands on their heads, surrounded by brigade fighters.
Libyan officials are actively collaborating with their African counterparts to address the issue of smuggling.
The Foreigm Ministry’s media department informed journalists that a workshop held in Tripoli over the past two days resulted in an agreement to increase coordination and combat smuggling and its funding sources.
The workshop, organized by Libyan intelligence chief Hussein Al-Ayeb, included participation from officials, specialists, and security experts from 26 countries.
