Libya Seizes 1.3 Million Drug Pills After Gun Battle With Smugglers
Libyan military forces have seized more than 1.3 million narcotic pills following a firefight with suspected smugglers in the southeastern city of Kufra, an operation that left three soldiers injured.
The Subul al-Salam infantry brigade said it targeted hideouts used for trafficking drugs and other illegal goods during the operation on Friday. The brigade operates under the eastern-based Libyan National Army, commanded by Khalifa Haftar.
Photographs released by the military showed large quantities of white pills packed in transparent plastic bags, with markings that included the words “Made in Germany”. Authorities did not disclose the estimated street value of the seized drugs or provide detailed information about the suspected smugglers.
The seizure highlights Libya’s growing role as a transit route for synthetic drugs and other narcotics destined for domestic markets and other parts of Africa, according to the United Nations.
The country’s prolonged political instability since the 2011 overthrow of former leader Muammar Gaddafi has created opportunities for trafficking networks to exploit weak border controls and fragmented security institutions.
The latest operation comes amid wider efforts by Libyan authorities to disrupt drug trafficking. In a separate case this month, five people were sentenced to death for importing more than two million psychotropic pills, according to the country’s attorney general.
Despite periodic seizures and arrests, the scale of the latest haul underscores the challenge of controlling illicit supply routes across Libya, particularly in remote southern and southeastern areas where extensive borders are difficult to police.
The authorities have not yet disclosed the origin of the seized pills or their intended destination, leaving unanswered questions about the wider trafficking network behind the shipment.
