The Libyan desert is a fertile ground for trafficking in persons from African countries to Europe. When all is publicly shared on social media, we can do better to counter this destructive criminal phenomenon 

Screenshot from a TikTok video of an alleged human trafficker in Libya. All details, including route times and personal info of the smugglers, can be found online


The European Union continues to grapple with the complex issue of irregular migration, with migrant smuggling networks playing a significant role in facilitating perilous journeys across the Mediterranean. Libya, a long-standing hub for such activities, has seen a sharp rise in departures, as thousands of migrants risk their lives in search of better opportunities in Europe.
According to recent data, over 80,600 people attempted to cross the Mediterranean from Libya in 2022, marking the highest number since 2017. This represents a significant increase from the 60,250 recorded in 2021, which had already exceeded migration flows from the post-crisis period of 2018-2020.
A Complex Web of Smuggling Networks
While often portrayed as highly organized criminals, those involved in migrant smuggling in Libya come from diverse backgrounds, including marginalized and impoverished communities. Many are themselves migrants who resort to facilitating journeys as a means of survival. Despite this, the lack of safe and legal migration routes has led to exploitative and violent interactions between migrants and smugglers.
Reports indicate that smugglers profit immensely from the desperation of migrants seeking passage to Europe, often subjecting them to forced labor, human trafficking, and sexual exploitation. Libya has long been criticized for its treatment of migrants, with reports of abuse in detention centers and cases of modern slavery.

Screenshots from TikTok videos of human traffickers. Published as advertisements for illegal trafficking “services”

The Root Causes of Migration
The motivations driving migrants to embark on these dangerous journeys are deeply intertwined with economic and political instability. Many migrants initially viewed Libya as an economic gateway to support their families. However, despite Libya benefiting from lower global oil prices in 2022 due to Russia’s war in Ukraine, economic instability persisted. Widespread inflation, rising costs of food and essential goods, and difficulties in accessing wages exacerbated hardships for both Libyan citizens and migrants. With economic pressures mounting, many saw migration to Europe as their only viable option.
In addition to economic distress, reports highlight the proliferation of human trafficking networks that lure migrants under false promises of employment in Europe. In reality, many fall victim to forced labor and sex trafficking, with smugglers exploiting their desperation for financial gain.
Journey and Smuggling Routes
Most migrants originate from West African countries, including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mali, aiming to reach Italy as their primary European destination. Libya remains the main departure point for these journeys, with key smuggling hubs identified in Medenine, Ben Gardane, Zarzis, and the border checkpoint of Ra’s Ajdir.
Despite intensified efforts by the European Union to curb illegal migration through stricter border enforcement and partnerships with North African authorities, the lack of legal migration pathways has only fueled the demand for smuggling services. Many migrants are left with no choice but to undertake dangerous sea voyages, often in overcrowded and unseaworthy vessels.
As migration numbers continue to rise, humanitarian organizations warn of worsening conditions for migrants in Libya and at sea. Thousands remain stranded in detention centers under inhumane conditions, while those who attempt the journey face extreme dangers, including drowning, dehydration, and violence at the hands of traffickers.

Many of the traffickers, based on key points on the smuggling routes of the Libyan desert, share videos of their life on the roads, with explicit shots of trucks and pick-up trucks loaded with trafficked persons

A Potential Lifeline - Social Media and Field Research to Stop the Abuse at its Core
While looking at the issue from above, it’s easy to miss what is on the ground - the traffickers’ need for self-advertising, and a bizarre need for social media exposure. Many of the traffickers, based on key points on the smuggling routes of the Libyan desert, share videos of their life on the roads, with explicit shots of trucks and pick-up trucks loaded with trafficked persons. 
These videos often consist of personal information about the traffickers and their accomplices, including names, faces and residential villages. Further investigation of these traffickers may be followed with additional identifying data, such as phone numbers and meet-up locations and more importantly means of laundering proceeds from their trafficking both from the people they traffick as well as the counterparts on the European side – there must be a financial chain to unravel in this transnational criminal endeavor including, but not limited to, cash remittance, trade based money laundering and crypto currency exchanges. 
The use of innovative investigative tools in the open source and the specific targeting of the trafficker’s financial infrastructure is key to reducing this illicit activity that leaves many victims on its disastrous path.

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