The Garagara Police Department in Ubari, Southern Libya, has arrested four undocumented Nigerian migrants after raiding a residence allegedly used for drug consumption and prostitution.
Migrants Rescue Watch, an organisation monitoring migrant affairs in Libya, confirmed the development on Monday, noting that the operation targeted a domicile reportedly serving as a hideout for illicit activities.
Police said the suspects, comprising two men and two women, were apprehended at the scene and subsequently referred to the Public Prosecution for legal action.
“Garagara Police Dept. (Ubari) conducted raid on a domicile used by migrants for consumption of illicit substances and prostitution. During op police arrested 4 undocumented migrants (2 males and 2 females) of Nigerian nationality.
“All referred to public prosecution for legal action,” the group quoted the police as saying.
Libya, a major transit point for migrants attempting to cross the Mediterranean to Europe, has witnessed repeated crackdowns on undocumented migrants amid concerns over drug use, human trafficking, and sex work in migrant communities.
Meanwhile, human rights organisations, however, have repeatedly warned that undocumented migrants in southern Libya often face double jeopardy: caught between traffickers who exploit them and security forces who pursue them. They argue that arrests and prosecutions should be accompanied by humanitarian interventions, including access to shelter, health care, and safe repatriation.
