Libyan authorities have dismantled a human trafficking network in the country’s southwest, arresting its members, according to the Attorney General’s office on Saturday.
The operation led to the capture of one of the network’s leaders and 10 other members, who face charges of murder, illegal detention, torture, and rape of migrants.
The investigation revealed violations against 1,300 migrants, including cases of forced detention, torture, and extortion for their release.
Libya has been in turmoil since a NATO-backed uprising in 2011 that overthrew and killed leader Muammar Qaddafi. The country remains divided between competing governments backed by militias, and Daesh militants have also established a presence.
Since 2014, people smugglers have operated with impunity in Libya, sending hundreds of thousands of migrants by sea to Europe, mainly Italy. Thousands have perished during these dangerous journeys.
