Plan to counter Libya’s people smugglers

The EU plans to mount a military mission to stop criminal gangs smuggling people to Europe by destroying their lucrative business model

Migrants crossing Mediterranean since January: 103,011 (to June 8)

Italy 54,000 Greece 48,000 Spain 920, Malta 91

Smuggling routes Libya’s internationally recognised government
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Libya Dawn rival administration Operation Triton area Tuareg militia

Toubou militia Islamic State

ITALY Rome Centocelle Sicily Sardinia Annaba

MALTA

TUNISIA Tunis Kelibia Sousse Sfax Djerba Jarjis

LIBYA Ghadamis ALGERIA Tripoli Zliten Sabha Misrata Lampedusa Sirte Kufra
Benghazi

EGYPT Tobruk Derna

Mediterranean Sea

GREECE Lesvos (Greece)

TURKEY Chios Kos

400km 250 miles
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Centocelle HQ: Military operation run by EU Naval Force – Mediterranean. Eight warships and 14 patrol ships already in area as part of Triton rescue mission

1 United Nations: Federica Mogherini, EU foreign service chief, has applied to UN Security Council for Chapter VII mandate to enable legal operation in
Libyan territorial waters

2 Naval blockade: Intercept boats within 12 nautical miles of Libyan coast. Migrants returned to shore

3 Destroy boats at sea: Increase financial risk to smugglers. Replacement cost of boat to carry 250 migrants is about €70,000

4 Ground operations: Destroy boats in harbours, fuel dumps, embarkation and collection points. Local warlords charge traffickers around €17,000 a month to use secure departure points and €4,500 a month to house migrants while they wait to depart

5 Libyan rivals: High-level EU political engagement to bring rival governments in Tobruk and Tripoli together to form Government of National Unity and combine militias into force to counter smugglers

Sources: IHS Jane’s Defence Weekly, Frontex

Picture: Associated Press

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