Ethiopian authorities have arrested 22 people accused of running a major human trafficking network that allegedly smuggled nearly 2,000 migrants, police said.
In a statement released late Tuesday, police said the suspects operated as organised criminal groups, luring people with false promises of safe passage to Europe and a better life. Ethiopia remains one of Africa’s main departure points for migrants attempting to reach the Gulf states and Europe.
According to investigators, victims were instead detained in warehouses, where they were forced to contact relatives to demand ransom payments. Police said the migrants were effectively held hostage until money was transferred.
Authorities said the network generated more than 2.16 billion Ethiopian birr, around $13 million, from trafficking about 1,800 people. The operation allegedly resulted in at least two deaths, while 15 people remain unaccounted for.
In a related development last August, Ethiopian courts sentenced five people to death on human trafficking charges, according to media reports. However, the country has not carried out executions since 2007, rights groups have noted.
Police said investigations are ongoing and further arrests remain possible as authorities continue efforts to dismantle trafficking networks operating across the country.