The “128th Reinforced” Brigade of the Libyan General Command announced the arrest of a large arms smuggling network in the Tamsa region, southern Libya.
The operation, which took place last Thursday evening, resulted in the arrest of 12 defendants of Sudanese and Chadian nationalities.
The statement issued by the brigade explained that the arrest of the accused came after intensive investigation and surveillance operations led by the “77” Fighting Company, and under the direct supervision of Brigadier General Hassan Maatouq Al-Zadma, the brigade’s commander, and during the operation large quantities of weapons and ammunition were confiscated.
Many reports indicate that weapons smuggled across the Libyan border directly affect security in the Sahel region, as they have exacerbated bandit crimes and criminal activities in neighboring countries.
According to the African Defense Platform magazine, some African experts in the field of security believe that small and light weapons leaked from Libya have reached as far as Nigeria and are being sold with great ease.
Some reports estimate the amount of weapons smuggled from Libya at millions of pieces, including light weapons, rifles, rocket launchers, and tanks.
Libyan weapons are smuggled from the western part under Dbeibeh’s government to several neighboring African countries, including Chad, Sudan, Niger, Mali, Egypt, and the Central African Republic.
French efforts to establish joint military units in Libya