Dubai in the United Arab Emirates and Alexandria in Egypt served as transit points between Dhaka in Bangladesh and Benghazi in Libya for Bangladeshi nationals, European Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson said. "There are indications that the routes used to reach Libya from Dhaka are direct connections between Dubai and Benghazi or Alexandria and Benghazi," Johansson replied on behalf of the European Home Affairs Commission. Engerer's question was prompted by a MaltaToday report earlier this year that revealed Frontex intelligence on how Bangladeshi migrants are being smuggled aboard charter flights into Libya where they get onto boats to reach Europe. However, a day later the EU placed Shammout on its sanctions list, calling him a "leading business person operating in Syria". Cham Wings, which does not operate to EU countries, remains subject to US sanctions and pressure is building within the EU to follow suit.

Source: Libya Today July 14, 2023 13:28 UTC