There has been a security campaign to crack down on illegal migration in the eastern region in recent days. On 30 July, the Government of National Stability (GNS) Ministry of Interior (MoI) reported that more than 3,000 illegal migrants had been arrested in the last 30 days in the course of raids by the Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency – Benghazi Branch. The MoIsaid that 150 of those arrested had contracted hepatitis B or C or AIDS. It said that preparations are currently being made to deport the detainees to their home countries.
On 1 August, a Joint Security Force of the GNS MoI apprehended more than 100 illegal migrants during a raid on a farm south of Tubruq in al-Khuwair. As they approached the farm, the security forces were reportedly fired upon by the human traffickers. After a firefight lasting several hours, the farm was secured. Some of the human traffickers and migrants managed to escape. They are currently being sought by the Security Forces. Several criminals were arrested.
On 2 August, a drug ring run by black African migrants was broken up in Sebha. Around twenty young men were arrested.
On 4 August, the Benghazi Security Directorate police raided a house under construction in al-Teriya Garyounis (in the south of Benghazi). Several illegal migrants were arrested and a fishing boat with a large amount of gasoline was confiscated. The detainees stated that they wanted to take the boat to Italy. The smuggling was allegedly organized by a Palestinian.
There has also been a political focus on countering migration, with Italy involved in the discussions.
On 31 July, the Chairman of the House of Representatives (HoR) Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Committee, Youssef al-Aqouri, emphasized at a workshop in Benghazi organized by the HoR, in cooperation with the IOM, that the HoR is against any settlement of illegal migrants in Libya. GNS Minister of State for Illegal Immigration Affairs Fathi al-Tabawi emphasized during the workshop that the Libyan National Army (LNA) and the GNS give priority to the migration issue and therefore pay great attention to it. The Italian Consul General in Benghazi, Francesco De Luigi, attended the workshop and reiterated in his statement Italy’s commitment to cooperate with Libya on the issue of illegal migration. The workshop concluded on 2 August.
On 1 August, al-Aqouri met with Francesco De Luigi and proposed the opening of an Italian Consulate General in Sebha to facilitate travel movements. He stressed the importance of expanding Italian cooperation programs in the South, especially in the field of agriculture, and invited the Italian consul to visit the South. De Luigi emphasized his country’s efforts to ease the migration crisis through the Mattei Plan. He expressed his wish to visit the South and to collaborate in the opening of a consulate in the city of Sebha.