The International Organization for Migration is reporting that, so far 12,338 migrants have been intercepted in the Mediterranean Sea and returned to Libya.
According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), a total of 10,653 men; 1,136 women and 404 children have been lifted from the high seas, possibly escaping from their homelands and trying to seek better refuge elsewhere.
The IOM report, made available to The Tanzania Times, also indicates that some other 145 individuals with no recorded gender were intercepted in the waters as of the 12th day of July 2025’
In connection with the operation, the International Organization for Migration also recorded 317 deaths and 286 missing persons along the migration route.
It is being stated that these intercepted migrants are primarily hailing from the sub-Saharan African countries as well as South Asia.
These persons had attempted to cross the Central Mediterranean, aiming to reach the Southern Coast of Italy, but they were particularly targeting the island of Lampedusa located just 300 kilometers across the sea, from Libya.
At around the same time in 2024, a total of 21,762 immigrants were intercepted, with at least 665 deaths being reported and 1,034 persons missing.
A year earlier, which is in 2023, a total of 17,190 immigrants were intercepted at sea when also some 962 people died in their attempt to cross the waters, with some other 1,536 persons reported to be missing.
The figures highlight a decrease in the number of immigrants being intercepted at sea in 2025; however, reports of deaths and people’s disappearances remain alarmingly high.
Hefty narcotic drugs seizure
In another development, one of the largest drug seizures in history of North Africa, has just been recorded in Libya.
Security forces there have confiscated more than 5 tons of hashish and dismantled a major drug trafficking network in the Taknes, a small town in the Eastern region of Libya.
The operation was conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Agency under the leadership of Major General Adel Abdel Aziz and Major General Fathi Al-Arifi, with support from the 682nd Battalion, following direct orders from Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar.