By Ebi Kesiena
The Tunisian National Guard has disclosed that it has dismantled a human trafficking network involving eight Tunisian nationals, including five women and a migrant smuggler.
The dismantling was a joint operation.
It was part of a coordinated effort to combat human trafficking and illegal border crossings.
The network was implicated in facilitating human trafficking and financing illegal border crossings for Sub-Saharan Africans.
According to a statement posted on the Tunisian National Guard’s Facebook page, the network provided irregular migrants with approximately 230,000 dinars (about $74,080) through postal money orders. This funding enabled the migrants to secure illegal residence in the areas of El Amra and Jebeniana in Sfax.
During the operation, authorities seized 65,000 dinars (about $20,937) in cash, a luxury vehicle, and a collection of contracts for assets acquired through money laundering. These assets were intended to support the network’s illicit activities.
The apprehended individuals were referred to the Sfax prosecutor’s office, which subsequently issued eight detention warrants on charges of “human trafficking and money laundering.”
Heritage Times HT reports that the dismantling of this network highlights the ongoing efforts by Tunisian authorities to address the complex challenges of human trafficking and illegal migration, particularly in the wake of increased migratory pressures in the region.
By targeting the financial underpinnings of such networks, Tunisia aims to deter future illegal activities and protect vulnerable populations from exploitation.
