'Trafficking kingpin’ detained
Publish date: 19 October 2020
Issue Number: 895
Diary: IBA Legalbrief Africa
Category: Libya
Libya's internationally-recognised government has confirmed that it has detained alleged human trafficking kingpin Abd al-Milad. The suspect headed the regional coast guard for the north-western coastal town of Zawiya, which authorities say ‘is consistently linked with violence against migrants and other human smugglers’. The UN has stated that Al-Milad was ‘directly involved in the sinking of migrant boats using firearms’. BBC News reports that it accuses him of opening a migrant detention centre in Zawiya ‘where abuse against migrants took place’. The International Office for Migration estimates that more than 20 000 people have died crossing the Mediterranean since 2014.
