Libya Charges Suspect with Human Trafficking After Mass Grave Discovery

Libyan authorities have charged an individual with the initials M.F.H. with human trafficking following the discovery of a mass grave containing the remains of 21 individuals in Benghazi. The announcement by the Attorney General’s Office on Friday marks a significant development in the ongoing efforts to address human trafficking in the region.

The investigation, conducted by the Internal Security Agency and Battalion 166, led to the grim find. Prosecutors have ordered DNA samples to be collected from the remains to identify the deceased and have mandated full autopsies to ascertain the causes of death. This recent charge comes as M.F.H. had previously faced allegations related to the murder of migrants and additional human trafficking offenses.

Calls for Accountability and International Action

In response to these developments, Refugees in Libya, an organization registered in Italy that supports refugees, has urged Karim Khan, the prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC), to evaluate the case within the ICC’s framework. They emphasized the systemic failures, stating, “The killings… occurred within a system where people are blocked, intercepted, returned, and abandoned in Libya after being denied safe pathways to protection. This demands accountability beyond Libya.”

The humanitarian organization Seawatch International has also condemned the European Union’s policies, asserting that the deaths of these individuals are a direct result of migration politics that jeopardize migrant lives. They stated, “Horrifying news: In Libya, a mass grave with at least 21 persons was discovered. Their deaths are a direct consequence of EU migration politics. Libya is not a safe place for people on the move!”

Human Trafficking Crisis in Libya

Since the NATO intervention in Libya in 2011 and the downfall of former leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, the country has become a critical hub for human trafficking. The situation has deteriorated, highlighted by the discovery of nearly 50 bodies in two separate mass graves in February 2025. Libya has also emerged as a departure point for traffickers transporting migrants to Nicaragua, with many aiming to reach the United States.

Libya’s legal framework addresses human trafficking, with Article 426 of the Libyan Penal Code prohibiting the trafficking of enslaved individuals and prescribing a prison sentence of up to ten years. Additionally, Article 428 criminalizes the deprivation of liberty, with penalties of up to five years in prison.

A recent report from the United States State Department attributes the surge in human trafficking to a combination of factors, including the lack of a functional judiciary, widespread corruption, and the influence of armed non-state groups. The situation remains critical as authorities and organizations continue to call for decisive action to address this humanitarian crisis.