Ethiopia Arrests ‘Dangerous’ Trafficker Accused of Exploiting 3,000 People

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Addis Ababa : The Ethiopian Federal Police have announced the arrest of an “internationally wanted and dangerous” human trafficker believed to be responsible for the deaths of more than 100 people.

In a statement issued, police identified the suspect by his passport name as Ytbarek Dawit Alemu, noting that he operated under multiple aliases across a vast trafficking network spanning countries including Sudan, Somalia, Djibouti, Kenya, and several European nations. Authorities said he was involved in trafficking more than 3,000 individuals.

The suspect was arrested along with nine accomplices in Shire, a town in the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia. Police allege that the group’s activities led to the deaths of over 100 victims and the sexual exploitation of more than 50 women.

According to investigators, the network had been recruiting and trafficking young people since 2018, primarily targeting individuals from Ethiopia, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, and Somalia.

Victims were reportedly transported to Libya, where they were held in five warehouses controlled by the traffickers. Police said the victims endured severe abuse, including inhumane treatment, physical injuries, and sexual violence.

Authorities also revealed that the group generated more than 3 billion birr (approximately $19 million) through its illegal operations.

Investigators gathered testimonies from victims located in Libya, Sudan, Belgium, England, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, and Switzerland. After completing the investigation, including statements from over 100 victims and their families, the case has now been forwarded to prosecutors.