Over 385 Pakistanis rescued from traffickers' captivity in Libya

Pakistani immigrants were held by human traffickers for ransom; transferred to nearby police headquarters

LIBYA:

More than 385 Pakistanis, including children, were rescued from the captivity of human traffickers in Libya, it was reported on Wednesday. 

According to details, these Pakistani immigrants were held by human traffickers for ransom and were rescued by security authorities in eastern Libya through raids at their warehouse.

According to Al-Abreen, a group that helps migrants in Libya, the Pakistani nationals were released from traffickers' warehouse in the Al-Khair area, which is about eight kilometers south of the eastern Libyan city of Tobruk, earlier this week.

In a post on its official Facebook page, the group said the migrants, including children, were later transferred to a nearby police headquarters.

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It was also reported that these Pakistani migrants arrived in Libya with the intention of going to Europe but were detained by traffickers.

In February, the official Twitter account of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) in Libya stated that 73 migrants were reported missing and presumed dead following a shipwreck off the Libyan coast,

The IOM added that seven survivors made it to shore from the boat, which was carrying around 80 people, who had reportedly departed from Qasr Alkayar, east of Tripoli, to head to Europe.

Libya has become a major launching point for migrants seeking to reach Europe via a dangerous route across the desert and over the Mediterranean.