On 2 June, Libyan National Army (LNA) Deputy Commander Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar ordered the complete elimination of the illegal presence of foreigners and migrants within Libyan territory, signaling a shift from reactive measures to calculated, proactive border management. The directive focuses on enforcing the rule of law and maintaining state sovereignty by targeting individuals without official documentation or legal residency permits, effectively cracking down on the smuggling networks, human trafficking, and organized crime that undermine the state.
According to Saddam Haftar, the military leadership views the uncontrolled presence of foreign labor and irregular migration not merely as a security issue, but as an existential threat to Libya’s social fabric and domestic workforce. At the same time, the directives place a strong emphasis on balancing national security with humanitarian concerns. Haftar stressed the importance of dealing with migrants humanely in accordance with recognized standards, ensuring their fundamental human rights and dignity are respected until their legal status is fully processed.
On 4 June, as part of ongoing efforts to combat human smuggling along the Libyan coast, patrols from the (eastern) General Administration for Coastal Security raided a launch site for illegal migration located between Harawa and Wadi al-Ahmar, roughly 80 kilometres east of Sirte. Following the raid, authorities burned a vessel suspected of being used for irregular migration operations. In a related crackdown, the (eastern) Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency announced the seizure of another boat in the city of Ajdabiya that was being used for illegal migration trips.
The Investigations Department of the (eastern) Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency successfully dismantled a suspected migrant smuggling operation in Benghazi’s al-Majouri district, arresting 26 Bangladeshi nationals who were awaiting transit to Europe. Following intelligence gathering and surveillance, security forces raided the residence being used to harbor the undocumented migrants, while also detaining an individual linked to the property. Authorities have launched an expanded investigation to identify and apprehend the broader networks responsible for organizing and financing this smuggling operation.
In coordination with the LNA’s 166th Infantry Brigade, the Security Operations Department of the (eastern) Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency arrested 63 undocumented migrants during a targeted security operation. The detained individuals were processed and transferred to the Greater Benghazi shelter for repatriation. The agency emphasized that these intensive, joint security campaigns will continue routinely to crack down on irregular migration and apprehend violators within their jurisdiction.
On 5 June, LNA Commander Khalifa Haftar, speaking at the opening of the reconstruction committee headquarters in Benghazi’s Sabri and Central districts, said that his deputy Saddam Haftar, has issued firm and comprehensive instructions to deal with all individuals entering Libya illegally, stressing that they must be removed from the country by any means to protect national security and public stability. Haftar warned that Libya cannot bear the consequences of groups whose activities harm society or undermine security.
The (eastern) Anti-Illegal Immigration Agency transferred 113 Sudanese, Chadian, and Nigerian migrants from the al-Bayda shelter to the Qanfouda facility in Benghazi to complete deportation procedures, noting that some cases involved hepatitis infections and others were removed under prosecution orders. Security patrols in al-Qubbah and along the coast carried out additional arrests and deportations.