The Ministry of the Interior of the Government of National Accord announced, on Wednesday evening, that the Tripoli Security Directorate had arrested Abd al-Rahman Salem Ibrahim Milad, nicknamed “Al Bidja”, who is accused of smuggling fuel and human trafficking.
The ministry said in a statement that the arrest of “Al Bidja” was based on the investigations carried out by the Attorney General’s office, and on the arrest warrant against him… and that was through the issuance of a special bulletin from the International Police Organization (Interpol), and at the request of the Security Council Sanctions Committee, because he, along with others, was involved in human trafficking, migrant smuggling and fuel smuggling.
The Interior Ministry added that, “After searching, investigating and collecting information, the Tripoli Security Directorate was able to control the concerned person and inform the Public Prosecutor’s office to take legal measures against him, and the search is still going on to arrest and bring the remaining accused.”
The Interior of GNA indicated that it “will work with utmost determination to apply the law to everyone, and that the hand of justice will extend to all wanted persons.”
It is noteworthy that “Bidja” is part of the Government of National Accord and the Volcano of Rage forces, as well as the Coast Guard in the western region.
Hours after the arrest of “Al Bidja”, news circulated that armed groups moved from the city of Al-Zawiya – his hometown – towards the capital, Tripoli, in what appeared to be a reaction from gunmen loyal to him.
His relationship with the GNA
Last June, “Al Bidja” appeared in a video recording in which he talked about his relationship with the Ministry of Defense and Interior Minister Fathi Bashagha and praised him.
In 2019, the “Interior Ministry of GNA” acquitted Al Bidja and confirmed that he was not a member of its apparatuses but rather he was to the Coast Guard of the Naval Forces, saying that an arrest and summon order was issued against him by the head of the investigations department of the Attorney General’s office on April 23, 2019.
“Human trafficker”
A UN security report issued in June 2017 described Abdel-Rahman Milad as a “human smuggler, bloodthirsty, responsible for firing at sea, leader of a criminal organization and suspected of drowning dozens of migrants.”
After that, the “Bidja” appeared in two official meetings in Italy in 2019, one of which was with the Italian Coast Guard, despite its condemnation by the United Nations of violating human rights in human smuggling operations.
Al-Bidja responded to the embarrassing situation in which the Italian authorities put it at that time, saying that he was ready for questioning by the relevant authorities about the charges against him, adding that the United Nations Security Council relied on what is being promoted on social media, without any real evidence. .
