Benghazi — The Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Libyan Army, Lt. Gen. Saddam Haftar, announced a comprehensive security campaign targeting undocumented migrants and human smuggling networks in a push to safeguard public security and stabilize the country.
Haftar stated that he is personally supervising the law enforcement operations directed against individuals violating Libya’s entry and residency laws. The extensive initiative is a direct response to what the commander described as growing threats from transnational organized crime and border infiltrations by migrant smuggling networks.
“We will not stand idly by in the face of the worsening situation that has developed over recent years and the risks it poses to the lives and security of citizens across various Libyan cities,” Haftar said in a statement. He pledged continued support for both national and international efforts to address the crisis.
While directing law enforcement agencies to take immediate legal measures to deport violators, Haftar emphasized the need for strict discipline. He instructed officers to operate with the highest standards of professionalism and to explicitly respect the human rights and dignity of those detained.
Addressing the international community, the military leader assured foreign governments that their citizens currently residing illegally in Libya are safe. He invited these nations to coordinate with the relevant Libyan institutions to follow up on the conditions of their nationals and the legal procedures for voluntary return or deportation.
Haftar also issued a call to the Libyan public to place their trust in state institutions, noting that these bodies have been ordered to take “firm measures” to protect citizens and strictly regulate the presence of foreign labor within the country’s borders.