Libyan authorities have reportedly released a man who has been commonly described as one of the world’s most wanted human traffickers.&nbsp;The man in question, Abd al-Rahman Milad is a coastguard commander who goes by the alias Bija. He was earlier&nbsp;sanctioned by the United Nations for sinking migrant boats.

Milad is part of a criminal network which operates from Zwiyah in northwest Libya, The Guardian reported. In October 2020, he was arrested by authorities&nbsp;but was freed on Sunday after charges against him were dropped by the military attorney general of Tripoli, citing&nbsp;lack of evidence.

The UNSC had imposed sanctions against Bija and five others in June 2018 for their connections with criminal networks that specialise in trafficking migrants from Libya.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/libyas-interior-minister-survives-assassination-attempt-365292" hreflang="en">Libya's interior minister survives assassination attempt</a>

In 2019, an Italian newspaper called Avvenire had reported that Bija was present in Europe throughout the last few years at official meetings including Italy, Rome between 2017-2019.

Soon after the news of his release came in, criticism flowed in from many parts of the world, especially in Italy where two journalists were given police protection for reporting on the criminal’s activities.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="http://13.235.153.162/world/over-1500-migrants-rescued-off-libya-coast-in-week-362857" hreflang="en">Over 1,500 migrants ‘rescued’ off Libya coast in week</a>

Many migrants hoping to flee wars and poverty cross through the country in hopes of reaching Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea.

The UN has referred to Bija as being directly involved in “sinking of migrant boats” was introduced at official meetings as a “Libyan coastguard”, the Italian newspaper reported.

Libyan authorities have reportedly released a man who has been commonly described as one of the world’s most wanted human traffickers. The man in question, Abd al-Rahman Milad is a coastguard commander who goes by the alias Bija.

Libyan authorities have reportedly released a man who has been commonly described as one of the world’s most wanted human traffickers. The man in question, Abd al-Rahman Milad is a coastguard commander who goes by the alias Bija. He was earlier sanctioned by the United Nations for sinking migrant boats. Milad is part of a criminal network which operates from Zwiyah in northwest Libya, The Guardian reported. In October 2020, he was arrested by authorities but was freed on Sunday after charges against him were dropped by the military attorney general of Tripoli, citing lack of evidence. The UNSC had imposed sanctions against Bija and five others in June 2018 for their connections with criminal networks that specialise in trafficking migrants from Libya. Also read: Libya's interior minister survives assassination attempt In 2019, an Italian newspaper called Avvenire had reported that Bija was present in Europe throughout the last few years at official meetings including Italy, Rome between 2017-2019. Soon after the news of his release came in, criticism flowed in from many parts of the world, especially in Italy where two journalists were given police protection for reporting on the criminal’s activities. Also read: Over 1,500 migrants ‘rescued’ off Libya coast in week Many migrants hoping to flee wars and poverty cross through the country in hopes of reaching Europe by crossing the Mediterranean Sea. The UN has referred to Bija as being directly involved in “sinking of migrant boats” was introduced at official meetings as a “Libyan coastguard”, the Italian newspaper reported.

One of the world's most wanted human traffickers released by Libya

A total of 3,324 migrants were rescued off Libya on Sunday in 26 different operations, the Italian coastguard said, bringing to more than 10,000 the total saved since Thursday. 
 
There were no reports of confirmed or suspected casualties after the operations to pick up migrants packed on to 25 rubber dinghies and one wooden boat all of which were rescued less than 35 miles from the Libyan coast. 
 
Coastguard and navy boats took part in the rescues, along with vessels operated by Eunavformed, the EU borders agency Frontex and the charities Doctors without Borders (MSF) and Sea Watch. 
 
The migrants were all being transferred to southern Italian ports. The latest rescues pushes to more than 66,000 the number of mostly African migrants to arrive in Italy since the start of 2016, according to figures compiled by the UN refugee agency. 
 
The rate of arrivals is broadly in line with the pattern of last year, with officials attributing this week&#39;s high figure to calm sea conditions, which make it less risky sending overcrowded boats out to sea from Libyan ports. 
 
More than 10,000 migrants have died trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean since 2014, just over a quarter of the casualties having happened this year. 
 
(AFP)

The latest operations take up the number of rescued migrants to arrive in Italy, mostly Africans, to 66,000 since the start of 2016

A total of 3,324 migrants were rescued off Libya on Sunday in 26 different operations, the Italian coastguard said, bringing to more than 10,000 the total saved since Thursday. There were no reports of confirmed or suspected casualties after the operations to pick up migrants packed on to 25 rubber dinghies and one wooden boat all of which were rescued less than 35 miles from the Libyan coast. Coastguard and navy boats took part in the rescues, along with vessels operated by Eunavformed, the EU borders agency Frontex and the charities Doctors without Borders (MSF) and Sea Watch. The migrants were all being transferred to southern Italian ports. The latest rescues pushes to more than 66,000 the number of mostly African migrants to arrive in Italy since the start of 2016, according to figures compiled by the UN refugee agency. The rate of arrivals is broadly in line with the pattern of last year, with officials attributing this week's high figure to calm sea conditions, which make it less risky sending overcrowded boats out to sea from Libyan ports. More than 10,000 migrants have died trying to reach Europe via the Mediterranean since 2014, just over a quarter of the casualties having happened this year. (AFP)

Italian coastguard rescue 3,300 migrants off Libya

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One of the world's most wanted human traffickers released by Libya

Italian coastguard rescue 3,300 migrants off Libya