European behind human trafficking arrested in Somalia

Two armed police officers in fatigues stand guard near the scene of a militant attack in Mogadishu, Somalia August 21, 2022. Police officers stand guard near the scene of a militant attack in Mogadishu, Somalia, on August 21, 2022. Two journalists were arrested for reporting on the police in mid-August 2023. (Reuters/Feisal Omar)

MOGADISHU, Somalia - Authorities in Somalia have detained a European of Somali origin over crimes related to human trafficking targeting the youth from the Horn of Africa nation, the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) confirmed following a coordinated crackdown.

According to officials, the suspect was flagged during screening, where the travel documents showed conflicting records. The operation was one of the wider efforts by the government to curb illegal immigration in the country.

Most Somali youths are exploited by individuals who take advantage of their nativity in the coordinated transnational crimes, where weak governance is used as a gateway to commit several crimes without severe punishment.

“Using advanced document verification tools, the Immigration and Citizenship Agency identified a Somali-origin individual holding European nationality suspected of trafficking youth. The suspect was handed over to CID for further investigation.”

The ICA’s ability to identify discrepancies likely stems from its recent integration with Interpol’s I-24/7 platform, launched in June through a U.S.-backed program connecting Somali airports to global watchlists.

The suspect, ICA officials said, has since been transferred to the Somali Police Force's Criminal Investigations Department for further questioning. Authorities have not released the individual’s name or nationality, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

According to reports, the suspect is believed to have been trafficking people from the Horn of Africa and across the Middle East. The arrest follows a crackdown announced in May, when Attorney General Suleiman Mohamed unveiled new prosecution mechanisms after Somalia joined the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.

Human trafficking has become a common order in the Horn of Africa region due to instability and rising incidents of terrorism. Somalia has struggled with instability for three decades, and criminal elements have used this loophole to commit crimes.

GAROWE ONLINE