An Ethiopian official says 200 human smugglers have been
detained as part of the government's efforts to stem the number of citizens
illegally trying to migrate to Europe.
Ethiopian Federal Affairs Minister Shiferaw Teklemariam told the
Ethiopian News Agency late Sunday
that the government is looking for 80 other human smugglers who are suspected
of conducting overseas operations.
Ethiopia, along with neighbour Eritrea, is the source of many of
the migrants making the perilous journey by sea to Europe, often via Sudan and
then Libya.
Ethiopia's government recently said it is drafting a new law
that would carry stiffer penalties against those convicted of human smuggling.
Ethiopia's current laws stipulate prison terms ranging from five
to 20 years for crimes related to human smuggling and fines not exceeding
$2,500.
No comments:
Post a Comment