Libya’s attorney general has referred a suspected gang member to court on human trafficking charges after authorities linked the group to a mass grave holding 21 migrant bodies. Investigators say the gang organised illegal migration and trafficked people in al-Kufra and Ajdabiya; one suspect is in custody while others remain at large. Officials also reported that 195 migrants were freed after being detained and tortured for ransom. The case comes amid a surge in deadly Central Mediterranean crossings, with the IOM reporting more than 1,000 deaths since the start of 2025.
Libya To Try Suspected Gang Member Linked To Mass Grave Of 21 Migrants On Human Trafficking Charges
This is a locator map for Libya with its capital, Tripoli. (AP Photo)(ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Libya’s attorney general said Friday that a suspected member of a criminal gang linked to a mass grave containing the bodies of 21 migrants has been referred to court on human trafficking charges.
In a statement posted to Facebook, the attorney general’s office said investigators uncovered evidence that the group organised illegal migration and trafficked people in the southeast city of al-Kufra and in Ajdabiya in eastern Libya. The statement did not name the gang.
What Authorities Say
The attorney general’s office did not specify when or how the 21 migrants died, or precisely when and where the bodies were discovered. The office released images showing corpses wrapped in black plastic bags, with some remains partly covered in dirt; the Associated Press said it could not immediately verify those images independently.
Authorities said the criminal group detained and tortured migrants to extort ransoms from their families before eventually releasing 195 people. One suspect has been arrested; other members are reportedly still being pursued by security services.
Broader Context
Libya has long been a major transit hub for migrants fleeing conflict and poverty across Africa and the Middle East. Many who attempt the dangerous sea crossing to Europe do not survive. The International Organization for Migration (IOM) recently reported that at least 42 people went missing and are presumed dead after a migrant boat capsized off Libya’s coast.
The IOM’s Missing Migrants Project says more than 1,000 people have died in the Central Mediterranean since the start of 2025, including over 500 off Libya’s coast.
Since the 2011 uprising that toppled and led to the death of longtime leader Moammar Gadhafi, Libya has been divided between rival administrations in the west and east, each backed by armed groups and external backers. The west is governed from Tripoli by Prime Minister Abdul‑Hamid Dbeibah, while an administration led by Prime Minister Ossama Hammad controls the east.
The attorney general’s office said the investigation is ongoing as authorities continue to pursue additional suspects and seek to clarify the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
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