Some migrants denounced that they were abused during their time in a Libyan safe house, right until their departure for Sicily. The investigation was launched by police, coordinated by prosecutors in Palermo, after two migrant landings in Lampedusa on December 26, 2022. On that occasion, specialized officers were informed about the existence of an alleged human trafficking ring, mainly of Bangladeshi nationals, from Libya’s coast to Italy, investigative sources said. Subsequent investigations showed that the alleged trafficking victims, after paying the sums requested to reach Libya from their country of origin, were detained inside ‘centres’ until they paid more money for the crossing to Italy. Investigations, prosecutors said, revealed “a criminal network of an international nature” and that “the five identified suspects – three Bangladeshis and two Sudanese – reached Lampedusa last December 26 together with their victims”.
