Libya increases deportation operations with 165 repatriated

Libya’s Anti-Illegal Migration Agency has deported 165 irregular migrants through coordinated operations carried out by its branches in Tobruk and Ajdabiya, as reported by the Libya Review on July 12th. 

These deportations are part of an ongoing security campaign aimed at combating illegal migration and strengthening border security. 

According to a statement issued by the agency, the Tobruk branch deported 127 migrants during the most recent operation.

One group was returned through the Musaid land border crossing using the agency’s deportation unit.

A second group was transferred to the Benghazi Reception and Deportation Center to complete the required legal procedures before the individuals could return to their home countries.

The agency said the operation forms part of its broader security plan targeted at addressing irregular migration, enforcing immigration laws, strengthening the rule of law, and protecting national security and public order. 

The Ajdabiya branch transferred 38 irregular migrants from the Ajdabiya Reception Center to the Benghazi branch in a separate operation.

Legal and administrative procedures will be completed at the Benghazi branch before migrants can be repatriated in accordance with both humanitarian standards and Libyan laws.

According to officials, the migrants belong to eight nationalities: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Eritrea, Côte d’Ivoire, Yemen, Morocco, Nigeria, and Niger. 

As noted by the agency, the transfer operation was supervised by the Director of the Ajdabiya branch and monitored by the Director of the Central Region and Southeast branches to ensure effective coordination between regional offices and the smooth implementation of reception and deportation procedures. 

Libya remains one of the key transit routes for migrants aiming to reach Europe through the central Mediterranean.

Data from the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) indicates that more than 700 migrants have died or gone missing on the central Mediterranean between January and April 2026.

The IOM estimates that over 930,000 migrants reside within Libya, with many originating from African nations experiencing instability, such as Sudan and Somalia.

Authorities have expanded operations in response to the increasing migration the country is facing, directed toward irregular migration, including deportation campaigns, strengthened border controls, and other efforts to dismantle human smuggling networks. 

Libya Review, Maghrebi.org.