The authorities in Libya have announced the dismantling of an illegal shipbuilding site used by irregular migration networks in eastern Tripoli.
Libyan security forces carried out an operation against an unauthorised facility used to build and equip boats intended for migrant smuggling in the Tajoura district, east of the capital, according to security officials.
The raid was conducted by the investigation and intelligence department of the Tripoli Anti-Illegal Migration Agency. Authorities said they acted on intelligence indicating that the site was being used as a logistical base by smuggling networks preparing illegal crossings of the Mediterranean.
Carried out in coordination with the Tripoli Public Prosecutor’s Office responsible for illegal migration cases, the operation led to the arrest of several workers present at the site during the raid. Security forces also seized industrial equipment and raw materials used in the construction of the boats.
In a statement, the agency said suspects had admitted to the charges during preliminary questioning. The authorities are now working to determine the scale of the networks involved, as well as possible links to other trafficking routes along the Libyan coast.
The case has been referred to the competent public prosecutor, who ordered the pre-trial detention of those arrested. The judiciary also ordered the confiscation of the seized equipment and the immediate closure of the facility pending further investigations.
Libya remains one of the main departure points for migrants attempting to reach Europe via the central Mediterranean route.
Despite regular operations against smuggling networks, authorities continue to face organised trafficking structures exploiting insecurity and institutional weaknesses in several parts of the country.
MK/AK/te/Sf/lb/as/APA