Man Behind Smuggling Ring Between Somalia and Benin Arraigned in Mogadishu Court

GOOBJOOG NEWS|MOGADISHU: A man suspected on leading a ring of smugglers between Mogadishu and west Africa has been arraigned in court to face charges.

The man, identified as Mohamed Ibrahim Ali was arraigned at Banaadir Regional Court in Mogadishu to face charges for his involvement in the human smuggling scandal.

According to the prosecution, Ali is among the key leaders in the smuggling network that ferries Somalis from the country to Benin in west Africa, where they are held for ransom.

The suspect has also been linked to a network of smugglers in Ethiopia, Niger, and Algeria. The court ordered that Ali be held in a special detention awaiting further investigations.

Thousands of Somalis have fallen victim to the smuggling ring as some attempt to travel to Europe through South Sudan, Central Africa all the way to Libya as they bank of smugglers to assist them cross the Mediterranean Sea to Italy and other European countries.

However, most of them have been held in prisons in Libya by gangs who then demand money from families back home.