Libyan authorities have successfully rescued more than 100 migrants, including five women, who were being held against their will by a criminal trafficking network in the eastern region of the country. The announcement was made by the Libyan Attorney General’s office on Monday, shedding light on yet another troubling chapter in the ongoing migration crisis in North Africa.

According to the statement, the captives were found in the city of Ajdabiya, located approximately 160 kilometers south of Benghazi, where they were allegedly detained under inhumane conditions. The group had reportedly endured physical abuse, torture, and extortion, as the traffickers demanded ransom payments from their families in exchange for their release.

The gang responsible is said to have been involved in illegal human smuggling, hostage-taking, and organized torture, a pattern that continues to plague Libya in the years following the 2011 fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi. Since then, the country has become a major corridor for migrants, many of whom are fleeing poverty, violence, and political instability in sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East, often hoping to reach Europe via the perilous Central Mediterranean route.

Authorities confirmed the arrest of five individuals suspected to be involved in the operation, including nationals from Libya, Sudan, and Egypt. Disturbing photos retrieved from the suspects’ mobile devices were shared by both the Attorney General’s office and the Ajdabiya Security Directorate, showing victims restrained and visibly injured.

This rescue follows other grim discoveries. Earlier in 2025, mass graves were uncovered in Libya’s southeastern desert, including 28 bodies near Kufra and 19 bodies in Jikharra, allegedly tied to human trafficking rings.

As of December 2024, the United Nations estimated approximately 825,000 migrants from 47 different countries were residing in Libya, many in vulnerable or undocumented conditions.

The crisis continues to draw international attention. Just last week, the EU Commissioner for Migration, along with ministers from Italy, Malta, and Greece, met with Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah of Libya’s Government of National Unity. The meeting focused on bolstering collaborative efforts to address irregular migration, improve border management, and dismantle smuggling networks operating within and beyond Libyan borders.

This latest rescue operation has reignited calls for stronger international oversight, increased humanitarian assistance, and greater accountability for those exploiting migrants in Libya’s fragile security landscape.