Researcher descries Libya’s “interception machine’s menace

The interception of migrant boats and arrests of migrants in Libya continued on August 11, according to a series of posts by Jihed, a PhD researcher in bioprotection of plants, on X.

Jihed said Al-Saiqa Special Forces intercepted a boat carrying more than 34 people at around 6 a.m. on August 11, approximately six nautical miles north of Kambut.

He said other interception operations were still ongoing, describing the developments as part of what he called Libya’s “interception machine.”

In a separate post, Jihed reported that Al-Saiqa Special Forces intercepted another boat carrying about 45 people near Tobruk at around 5 a.m. The migrants were reportedly being taken to the Tobruk naval base.

“Another forced return into Libya,” he wrote.

The reports followed a post by Jihed on August 10, in which he said interception efforts were also taking place on land before migrants could leave Libya by boat.

According to Jihed, the General Directorate for Coastal Security in Tobruk said its land patrols raided a house and arrested 148 Bangladeshi migrants before they could depart.

The reported interceptions and arrests highlight the continuing efforts by Libyan security forces to prevent migrants from departing along the Mediterranean route to Europe.