No Result
View All Result
Tuesday, July 15, 2025
23 °c
Tripoli
24 ° Sat
24 ° Sun
  • Advertising
  • Contact
LibyaHerald
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
SUBSCRIBE
  • Home
  • Libya
  • Business
  • Opinion
  • Magazine
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Register
No Result
View All Result
LibyaHerald
No Result
View All Result
Home Libya

One year on for Zuwara’s Masked Ones

byMichel Cousins
January 6, 2014
Reading Time: 2 mins read
A A
One year on for Zuwara’s Masked Ones

Saturday's ceremony in Zuwara honouring the town's Counter Crime Unit

By Taziz Hasairi.

Saturday's ceremony in Zuwara honouring the town's Counter Crime Unit
Saturday’s ceremony in Zuwara honouring the town’s Counter Crime Unit

Zuwara, 6 January 2014:

The Crime Counter Unit, Zuwara Branch, or the Masked Ones as people like to call them, . . .[restrict]celebrated their first anniversary on 4 January as the town’s main security force.

The CCU is now a part of the Ministry of Interior but in Zuwara it started off as the idea of a small number of young men from different cultural groups. In late 2012, they set up a committee to approve members who wanted to join. There were two basic conditions. The first was that that a member had to have been a revolutionary who had fully supporting the 17 February Revolution. The  second that he had high moral standards and had not been in trouble with the law.

It took about two months to gather sufficient members. Meanwhile, the aim was to win the support and respect of local people. This was helped when it received the endorsement of Zuwara Local Council. the group’s first mission then took place a year ago on 4 January when they captured a man allegedly heading an operation to attack Zuwara hospital.

RELATED POSTS

Libya and Italy discuss establishment of the Libyan Italian Vocational Training Centre in Zuwara

Four Zuwara Coast Guard officials detained for illegal immigration activity

The creation of the CCU was a turning point in Zuwara’s fortunes, one of the founders told the Libya Herald.

“It was needed. After the revolution, Zuwara, like the other towns and cities, suffered from chaos, robberies and random killings – there were 15 between 2011 and 2012. But now, a year on, the crime rate is practically zero and not a single killing has taken place so far. The secret of our success was the ability to convince people to support us and the good reputations we had.”

Three months ago, a survey was undertaken in Zuwara to see what local residents thought about security. In one of the questions, respondents were asked what they thought was the most trustworthy military force in the area. Ninety-two percent replied: “The masked ones”.

It is said, perhaps tongue in cheek, that the main reason of the remaining eight percent did not was because they or a family member or friend had been arrested by the CCU.

The idea of wearing masks was deemed necessary because in towns where everyone tends to know each other, there was the possibility (if not the probability) of revenge attacks.  With the masks it is much more difficult.

Mini masked ones
Mini masked ones

Zuwara is now considered one of the safest towns in Libya. There is always a CCU unit operating at any time of day or night and it is the only force that Zuwara and the council count on.

Saturday’s celebration honouring the members, was attended by Zuwara Local Council and local civil society officials, families of CCU members and journalists from across Libya. [/restrict]

Tags: Counter Crime UnitfeaturedLibyaZuwara

Related Posts

ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

Three Fisheries officials temporarily suspend from work by Administrative Control Authority suspected of corruption

July 15, 2025
ACA reveals 94,000 cases of state sector salary duplication in 2015
Libya

ACA saves LD 409 million on school textbook printing, suspends Tripoli Education Ministry’s Textbook Warehouse Manager

July 15, 2025
Attorney General orders arrests at Jumhouria bank branch for embezzlement
Libya

Attorney General provides update on investigation of incidents resulting from Tripoli 2025 armed clashes and demonstrations

July 11, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Aldabaiba seeking long term partnership not interim solutions on combatting irregular migration

July 10, 2025
Acting Interior Minister Trabelsi taking steps to counter forged ID numbers and passports
Libya

There are 4 million irregular migrants in Libya: Interior Minister Trabelsi

July 10, 2025
GNU to take oath at Benghazi HoR session and budget to be approved at Tripoli session: GNU
Libya

Aldabaiba: Militias have become criminal gangs and a state within the state

July 9, 2025
Next Post

Libyan Navy intercepts oil tanker illegally entering national waters

Umm Aranib honours security forces

Umm Aranib honours security forces

ADVERTISEMENT

Top Stories

  • Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund signs contract with Turkey’s Ankamenia for maintenance of Benghazi University’s medical colleges

    Libya Development and Reconstruction Fund signs contract with Turkey’s Ankamenia for maintenance of Benghazi University’s medical colleges

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • BP to reopen office in Libya, Shell discusses prospects for cooperation in oil field development‎

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • China to resume implementation of its stalled railways projects in Libya

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Libyan olive oils win gold at Anatolian, Berlin and Japan 2025 international olive oil competitions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • All imports into Libya must be paid for through official bank transactions

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
ADVERTISEMENT
LibyaHerald

The Libya Herald first appeared on 17 February 2012 – the first anniversary of the Libyan Revolution. Since then, it has become a favourite go-to source on news about Libya, for many in Libya and around the world, regularly attracting millions of hits.

Recent News

Three Fisheries officials temporarily suspend from work by Administrative Control Authority suspected of corruption

UK Minister visits Tripoli – agreement signed to improve quality of English teaching at Libyan educational establishments

Sitemap

  • Why subscribe?
  • Terms & Conditions
  • FAQs
  • Copyright & Intellectual Property Rights
  • Subscribe now

Newsletters

    Be the first to know latest important news & events directly to your inbox.

    Sending ...

    By signing up, I agree to our TOS and Privacy Policy.

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    Welcome Back!

    Login to your account below

    Forgotten Password? Sign Up

    Create New Account!

    Fill the forms below to register

    *By registering into our website, you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
    All fields are required. Log In

    Retrieve your password

    Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

    Log In
    No Result
    View All Result
    • Login
    • Sign Up
    • Libya
    • Business
    • Advertising
    • About us
    • BusinessEye Magazine
    • Letters
    • Features
    • Why subscribe?
    • FAQs
    • Contact

    © 2022 LibyaHerald - Powered by Sparx Solutions.

    This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.