By Sami Zaptia.
London, 25 August 2016:
The Special Deterrence Force (SDF) or Rada has reported successes against kidnap gangs and drugs dealers over the last week.
Today, it reported that it had successfully freed an eight-year old boy, Omar Al-Mishry, who had been kidnapped in the city of Zawiya on the 17th August. ‘‘The gang had threatened and extorted his family’’, reported Rada.
Rada said that in cooperation with a Zawiya security force it had stormed the location where the boy was being held. The three-man kidnapping gang was arrested and the boy was safely freed.
Rada also reported yesterday that it had arrested a prominent drugs dealer, Ahmed Sakher in the Girgarish district of Tripoli. He had been arrested a few months ago, but his arrest was kept secret for security reasons, Rada reported.
A video confession by Sakher was released by Rada. In the video, the bearded Sakher admits to his crimes saying that he had been a marijuana dealer for 9 years. He also confessed to taking part in the closure of the main Girgarish road in protest after Rada had arrested a number of alcohol and drug dealers in Girgaresh.
Sakher also admitted to being armed, to receiving his drugs by sea and admitted to ‘’renting’’ illegal African migrants to market their drugs for him. He also named a number of his Libyan accomplices.
Rada said that they see drugs as one of the reasons for the lack of security in Libya especially since many criminals are armed. They said that drugs criminals also take advantage of illegal migrants who are in need of money, jobs and housing – in order to market their drugs.
Rada also reported the arrest of a Tripoli-based gang who had kidnapped five people in the capital. The gang had released their five victims after receiving a ransom. However, Rada released a video in which it showed a meeting during which it returned ‘‘a large part of the ransom’’ to the victims’ families.
Rada assured the public that it will continue to pursue kidnap gangs who had extorted ransom from victims even after the victims had been released.
Rada is based in Mitiga airport and is led by the controversial Abdel Rauf Kara who has been accused of human rights violations. Rada is recognized by the Tripoli-based authorities and it generally recognizes the Tripoli-based government of the day. It currently supports the Serraj-led Presidency Council/Government of National Accord. It is currently the most effective crime-fighting force in Tripoli, extending its operations to Sabratha and Zawiya.
