By Sami Zaptia.
London, 15 January 2017:
The Rada (Special Deterrence) Force continued its raids on criminal dens in the ‘‘Gragsha’’ area of the Gargaresh district of Tripoli yesterday. Rada has been conducting a series of campaigns in the area against alcohol, drugs and prostitution dens. It has also been conducting operations against kidnap gangs.
It said that the area has been ‘‘out of control’’ in terms of security for ‘‘many years’’ where many African ‘‘gangs’’ had set up dens of illicit trade. Rada also reported that it had received ‘‘repeated complaints’’ from residents who had admitted defeat in protecting their children and homes from the danger of these gangs.
It reported the arrest of large numbers of African gangs made up of illegal migrants and confiscated large quantities of alcohol. During the raid, the gangs attempted to impede Rada’s progress by blocking the narrow roads in the area with various barricades, including the use of cars. Rada used bulldozers to clear the way and to demolish some of the buildings used as dens.
Most of the Illegal migrants that were arrested were handed over to the Counter-illegal Migration Authority, but those believed to be part of illicit trade gangs were held under arrest, reported Rada.
It will be recalled that Rada has received direct official backing from the Faiez Serraj Presidency Council/Government of National Accord but has also been involved in various territorial battles with other militias/security agencies and so-called Islamist militias with a different Islamic interpretation – in a battle of dominance within Tripoli.
Rada is also fighting extremists such as Ansar Sharia/ISIS and the Benghazi Defence Brigades (BDB), including holding some of these groups’ prisoners, which has created it enmities, including that of the Mufti Saddek Ghariani.
