The Sabratha Security Directorate announced that it had thwarted a human smuggling operation by a gang in the city.

The directorate said in a statement, "security patrols managed during the early morning hours to thwart a smuggling operation," noting that migrants were detained and "a rubber boat and tools used to complete the operation, such as gallons of gasoline, a generator and other equipment were seized."

The gang members managed to escape, leaving behind five vehicles at the scene, according to the statement.