The Stabilization Support Agency in Libya revealed in a statement on Sunday that 40 irregular Pakistani migrants were detained in a warehouse in the Tajoura area, where they were planning to migrate to Europe via an international smuggling network. Each migrant had paid $20,000 for the journey.

The migrants had arrived in Libya via Benina International Airport, and were then transported to the Tajoura area in preparation for their departure across the Mediterranean Sea.

The agency also stated that the search for the Libyan members of the smuggling network involved in the operation is ongoing.

In a related development, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) estimated that more than 21,000 migrants had been returned to Libya by the coastguard during 2024, warning of an increase in such operations in the Mediterranean.