Ethiopian migrants walk along the shores of Ras al-Ara, in Lahj, Yemen, after disembarking from a boat on 26 July 2019. Ethiopian police have arrested 22 people accused of smuggling nearly 2,000 migrants, in a network that reportedly caused at least two deaths and earned millions for those involved. Ethiopia is a key departure point for migrants heading to the Gulf and Europe and is known for human trafficking and scams. Authorities said the suspects ran “criminal gangs” and gave migrants false promises of a better life in Europe after crossing through Libya. Instead, migrants were held in warehouses, forced to contact their families for ransom, and effectively kept hostage until payment.

Source: Ethiopian News January 28, 2026 15:27 UTC