The Ethiopian police announced on Tuesday that they have apprehended a human trafficking kingpin and nine accomplices, accused of orchestrating a cross-border network.
They are suspected to have trafficked more than 3,000 people, causing over 100 deaths and the raping of more than 50 women.
In a statement issued on Tuesday police said the suspect identified as Yitbarek Dawitt Alemu was arrested in Shire town in the Tigray region following a coordinated operation conducted with the Regional Operational Centre in Sudan.
According to the statement, the network had been active since 2018, recruiting migrants from Ethiopia and neighbouring countries before transporting them to detention sites in Libya.
Victims were allegedly held in warehouses, subjected to torture and starvation, and forced to contact families for ransom payments. Authorities said those unable to pay were severely abused.
The police said financial investigations revealed transactions exceeding three billion Ethiopia Birr linked to the network. Testimonies from more than 100 victims and relatives were collected, including statements obtained remotely from individuals currently residing in countries across Africa and Europe.
Investigators revealed that the alleged ringleader operated under multiple identities to evade law enforcement, using his real name alongside aliases such as Adhanom, Ahmed, Munir, and Kibrom across Africa and Europe.
Additional digital evidence and testimonies were obtained from survivors currently residing in Libya, Sudan, Belgium, the United Kingdom, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland, further strengthening the case.
The Ethiopian Federal Police acknowledged the support of national and international partners, including the Ministry of Justice, the National Intelligence and Security Service, and ROCK, in advancing the investigation.
The Ethiopian Federal Police also urged the public to remain vigilant and report suspicious activities through official channels, emphasizing that community cooperation remains vital in combating human trafficking networks.
MG/as/APA