Libyan authorities have rescued at least 221 abducted migrants following a raid on a human trafficking camp in the Kufra area of southeastern Libya.
The operation was carried out by the Directorate for Combating Illegal Migration (DCIM) in collaboration with the Sabil al-Salam Border Protection Battalion, according to a statement released on Monday by Migrant Rescue Watch.
Security operatives said the raid was conducted after intelligence reports indicated that migrants were being illegally detained at the site. During the operation, officers uncovered an underground prison where the victims had reportedly been held by a Libyan human trafficker under inhumane conditions.
The rescued migrants, whose nationalities were not immediately disclosed, told investigators that they had been confined in the underground facility for more than two years. Testimonies revealed that detainees were subjected to overcrowding, inadequate food and water, poor ventilation, and denial of basic medical care.
Migrant Rescue Watch said many of the victims were in poor health due to prolonged abuse and neglect, with several suffering from untreated injuries and illnesses. More than 10 migrants in critical condition were transferred to hospital for urgent medical treatment following the rescue.
“DCIM jointly with Sabil al-Salam Border Protection Battalion carried out a raid on a human trafficking site in the Kufra area. During the operation, 221 migrants were freed from an underground prison run by a Libyan human trafficker,” the statement said.
Libya has long been identified by international human rights groups as a major hub for human trafficking and migrant abuse, particularly along routes used by migrants from sub-Saharan Africa attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Europe. Armed groups and criminal networks are known to exploit migrants through kidnapping, forced labour, extortion, and prolonged detention in makeshift facilities.
