The General Administration of Coastal Security, affiliated with eastern-based forces, said Wednesday it intercepted 71 irregular migrants east of Sirte before they could be smuggled by sea. In a statement, the administration said patrols found the migrants hidden inside a water tank on a large truck in the al-Khamsin area, about 46 kilometers (29 miles) east of Sirte, before they boarded a smuggling boat. According to the statement, 55 of the migrants were Pakistani nationals and the remainder were Egyptian. The suspected smugglers fled the scene, leaving behind their vehicle and a trailer used to transport the boat, it added. Authorities said the boat was set on fire due to damage that made it unfit for reuse, and the migrants were handed over to the Anti-Illegal Migration Agency in Sirte.

Source: Libya Observer February 26, 2026 18:34 UTC