Smuggling, power, profit: Irregular migration out of eastern Libya
There is currently more irregular migration between eastern Libya and Crete, Greece. It's raising questions as to what connects people smugglers with powerful militias in eastern Libya and then in turn, Europeans.
Every year, approximately 20,000 individuals attempt the treacherous journey from Libya to Greece's Crete island. The route, primarily operating from eastern Libya towards Greece, has emerged as a crucial pathway for illegal migration into Europe. The Greek daily Kathimerini reported a surge in arrivals on October 20, with 710 people discovered in 14 boats, alongside hundreds more the following day.
Departing from Tobruk, a port city on Libya's eastern Mediterranean coast, migrants frequently pay up to $4,000 (€3,600) for the perilous crossing, which usually lasts around 1.5 days. This specific route's popularity has risen due to intensified efforts against alternative passages. Following the 2023 crackdown by eastern Libyan armed forces on smugglers heading towards Italy, the networks adapted, opting for smaller boats and sailing towards Crete instead.
The Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime, a Swiss-based think tank, noted that other groups have also entered the people smuggling business, including those who previously dealt in goods, vehicles, or drugs. In Libya, conflict and instability have created a conducive environment for smuggling and trafficking activities, leading to the expansion of the smuggling business in multiple locations along established routes.
Researchers from the British Chatham House think tank found that a full-fledged industry has formed around smuggling routes, regardless of whether it involves weapons, goods, people, or drugs. Hager Ali, a researcher at the German Institute for Global and Area Studies, explained that if there are existing contacts, transportation, and security arrangements, they can also be utilized for illegal activities like human trafficking.
Since 2014, Libya has been divided between a UN-backed administration in Tripoli and the eastern coastal city of Tobruk, ruled by former warlord Khalifa Haftar. While there are no direct links between Haftar's networks and people smugglers along the eastern coast, controlling these sectors grants political influence. For instance, high-profile operations against smuggling networks can demonstrate political legitimacy.
Geopolitical competition in the eastern Mediterranean has also increased, with Turkey signing a maritime agreement with the Tobruk government in late October, despite Greece rejecting the deal. The European Union has been cooperating with Libyans to prevent irregular migrants from reaching Europe, despite the Libyan actors' connections to armed groups and disputed political legitimacy.
This cooperation, however, can consolidate the Libyans' local power, demonstrating their strategic importance to European governments. According to the UN International Organization for Migration, around 950,000 migrants and refugees were residing in Libya in May and June 2023, many lacking access to healthcare and work permits, further increasing their vulnerability to exploitation.
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