Traffickers across the Sahara and parts of Libya kidnap refugees and force their families to pay ransom for their release. Migrants heading north toward Europe often fall into the hands of armed groups that control parts of the desert routes.
These gangs beat, starve, and torture captives while calling relatives to demand money. They record videos of the victims to increase fear and push families to pay quickly. Many families sell land or borrow money to save their loved ones.
The traffickers move people between groups to squeeze out more money, even after a first payment. They rely on secret money channels that make tracking nearly impossible. As a result, the trade continues to grow across isolated desert zones.
Libya remains the main hub for these operations because weak law enforcement allows traffickers to act freely. Refugees from East and West Africa continue to take the risky route through the Sahara, hoping to reach the coast but facing constant danger.
Aid workers say the ransom trade has turned migration into a brutal business. Each journey carries a high cost—some pay with their savings, others with their lives.
Source: CNN
