Ethiopian authorities have arrested a suspected kingpin of a major international human trafficking network accused of exploiting thousands of migrants across Africa and funneling them into Libya, police said.
The suspect, identified as Yetbarek Dawit, was detained alongside nine alleged accomplices in the northern town of Shire in the Tigray region following what officials described as a complex, cross-border investigation.
According to Ethiopian Federal Police, the network has been operating since at least 2018, moving more than 3,000 migrants—primarily young people—from countries including Sudan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Somalia, Kenya, and Djibouti toward Libya, often with promises of onward passage to Europe.
Investigators allege that Yetbarek oversaw a system of detention facilities in Libya where migrants were held under brutal conditions and forced to extort money from their families.
Police say testimonies collected from victims and relatives indicate the network was linked to the deaths of more than 100 people, as well as the sexual abuse of at least 50 women.
Survivor accounts describe severe mistreatment inside the facilities, including beatings with cables and sticks, prolonged chaining, starvation, and the use of melted plastic as a form of torture. Women were reportedly subjected to repeated sexual violence.
Authorities said the operation generated more than $19 million through extortion and trafficking activities.
The arrests were carried out in coordination with a regional anti-smuggling initiative known as the Regional Operational Centre (ROCK), supported by the European Union.
Police said Yetbarek, who is reportedly wanted in multiple countries, used several aliases across regions, including “Adhanom,” “Ahmed,” “Munir,” and “Kibrom,” to evade detection.
Officials added that bank accounts linked to the suspects have been frozen and properties seized as part of the investigation.
The 10 suspects have been transferred to Addis Ababa and are expected to face formal charges.