The coastal line in Libya’s furthest east has become a new hotspot for migrants departing for Europe and human traffickers whose networks and infrastructure have reached unforeseen levels. Cities such as Tobruk, Benghazi, and the town of Bin Jawad are experiencing an uptick in human trafficking first-hand.
The city of Tobruk is known for being a key transit hub in North Africa for the smuggling of counterfeit goods and drugs. The reason for that is the various protected beaches that are used as disembarkation or reception points for smuggling activities of all kinds. In 2022, we recorded an uptick in human trafficking and embarkment of migrants from the shores of Bin Jawad, Benghazi, Tobruk, and other areas – specifically the coastal areas east of Tobruk, al-Burdi, Kambout, and Shat al-Shaawer. In fact, the ecosystem for illegal migration and human trafficking has grown significantly in the city of Tobruk over the last couple of years.
Located around 290 km southeast of Tobruk, al-Jaghboub town for instance serves as a transit hub for southern smuggling routes stemming from Egypt and sub-saharan countries. This is due to a number of factors.
First, some official security actors such as the local police or some Libyan National Army (LNA) units have become involved in human trafficking for financial gains. Secondly, key families in border areas or in coastal areas have realised how lucrative human trafficking can be.
