The suspect was arrested along with nine accomplices in Shire, a town in the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia. Police allege that the group’s activities led to the deaths of over 100 victims and the sexual exploitation of more than 50 women. According to investigators, the network had been recruiting and trafficking young people since 2018, primarily targeting individuals from Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, and Somalia. Investigators gathered testimonies from victims located in Libya, Sudan, Belgium, England, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. After completing the investigation, including statements from over 100 victims and their families, the case has now been forwarded to prosecutors.

Source: Ethiopian News April 09, 2026 16:20 UTC