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Western Libya.. Security Campaign Targets Drug Dealers in Al-Zawiya
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The military operation sparks controversy over its true objectives between fighting organized crime and targeting government political opponents
A massive security operation has been launched against drug sites in the city of Al-Zawiya in western Libya, as part of a military plan initiated by the Libyan Presidential Council with the support of the Government of National Accord.
The campaign seeks to track smuggling gangs and eliminate drug trafficking networks and crime in the western coastal region of the state.
Circulated video recordings showed scenes of storming major drug trafficking strongholds in Al-Zawiya city, where military units carried out demolition operations and gate destruction using heavy equipment and vehicles.
One clip captured the moment armed forces breached one of the headquarters belonging to the armed group leader known as "Al-Kabwat," classified as one of the most dangerous drug dealers in Libya's western sector, and began destroying the building.
Those in charge of the military operation in Al-Zawiya and the western coast stated that it targets smugglers and drug dealers, aiming to restore security and end chaos in this area controlled by armed militias.
Libya's western coastal region stands out as a hotspot for subsidized fuel smuggling and irregular migrant operations, in addition to drug trafficking, with most smuggling points spread across the coasts of Al-Zawiya, Sabratha, Zuwara, and Al-Khums cities.
The operation sparked widespread controversy within Libya, between those welcoming it for curbing the influence of outlaw armed militias in the western region, and those considering it a campaign targeting groups opposed to Abdul Hamid Dbeibeh's government under the guise of combating smuggling and crime.
Levant-Agencies
