Police in Ethiopia have arrested a man suspected of leading a major international human trafficking network that allegedly exploited thousands of migrants over several years.
The suspect, Yetbarek Dawit, is accused of orchestrating operations that transported people from across East Africa to Libya, where many hoped to continue their journey to Europe. Investigators say the network has been active since 2018.
Authorities allege that Dawit ran multiple detention sites in Libya, where migrants were held under brutal conditions and forced to contact relatives for ransom payments. Those unable to pay were reportedly subjected to severe abuse, including torture and deprivation.
He was arrested alongside nine suspected accomplices in the northern town of Shire. The group has not yet been formally charged.
According to police, evidence gathered so far links the network to the deaths of more than 100 people and the sexual abuse of dozens of women.
The arrests followed a complex international investigation involving the Regional Operational Centre (ROCK), a body supported by the European Union to combat human trafficking and smuggling networks in the region.
Officials say the suspects trafficked more than 3,000 people from countries including Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Sudan, using a network of routes across borders.
Dawit, who is reportedly wanted internationally, is said to have used multiple aliases in different countries, helping him evade detection for years. Authorities say advanced tracking methods and testimonies from victims across several countries were key in locating him.
Police have frozen bank accounts linked to the group and seized assets believed to have been obtained through the operation, which is estimated to have generated over $19m.
Following their arrest, the suspects were transferred to the capital, Addis Ababa, as investigations continue.
