Libyan Interior Minister Trabelsi addresses fuel smuggling, implicates other security agencies and state entities
via Libya Herald2 min read
Libya's Tripoli-based Minister of Interior, Major General Emad Trabelsi, stated that fuel smuggling is a major problem plaguing the country, leading to massive profiteering and plunder. Speaking during the Fourth Ordinary Cabinet Meeting of 2026 in Zliten, Trabelsi highlighted the Ministry of Interior's efforts over two and a half years to track fuel shipments in the western region, excluding Misrata and Zawia, which were deferred to a second phase due to the vast scope. He expressed concern over a recent decision to form a committee for fuel distribution involving municipal mayors, the National Oil Corporation, and Brega Petroleum Marketing Company, arguing that this approach would sideline the Ministry of Interior and lead to a resurgence of smuggling. Trabelsi noted that these entities lack the capacity to confront smuggling operations backed by military forces and corrupt state officials. He also claimed that a single petrol station operator can make at least 100,000 dinars daily from smuggling, and he has shut down over 500 stations. Trabelsi further indicated that diesel smuggling is blatant, with shipments diverted immediately upon arrival, and admitted he cannot clash with other security agencies and state entities involved in the practice.
Free daily or weekly digest of the most important stories from across 18 African countries. No spam, unsubscribe any time.
This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by Libya Herald.
Libya is in discussions with a major US inspection company to install modern inspection equipment at all its ports, airports, and border crossings. This initiative was announced by Major General Emad Al-Trabelsi, the Tripoli-based Minister of Interior, during the Fourth Ordinary Cabinet Meeting of 2026. The move comes amid public concern following the pre-trial detention of personnel accused of allowing the import of unhealthy pesticides. During the same meeting, Libyan Prime Minister Abdel Hamid Aldabaiba expressed anger over the Food and Drug Control Centre's failures, calling for the replacement of its management. The Minister of Interior emphasized the government's comprehensive project to upgrade inspection and oversight systems at border crossings, highlighting the need to engage specialized international food inspection companies due to the inadequacy of local capabilities to monitor large volumes of imported food. He also stressed the necessity for decisive decisions and robust enforcement measures to address food safety, fuel smuggling, and illegal migration.
The Public Prosecutor in Libya has ordered the pretrial detention of the Chairman of the National Centre for Plant Protection and Agricultural Quarantine, the Centre鈥檚 Director General, and the Head of the Agricultural Extension Office in Tripoli. Their detention, announced on July 17, is linked to charges of negligence in evaluating and monitoring agricultural pesticides, which allegedly led to banned pesticides circulating in the country. The Attorney General鈥檚 Office initiated public proceedings against them for failing to perform their official duties, specifically regarding the assessment of imported agricultural pesticides, inspection of storage facilities, and monitoring of traders. This negligence reportedly allowed prohibited pesticides to enter the market, following public outcry over the import of unhealthy agricultural pesticides for use by farmers.
Must ReadThe Man-Made River Authority MMR reported the gradual restoration of power to the Eastern Region section, specifically the Sarir and Tazerbo wellfields, following a total power outage early Saturday morning. The blackout, which extended from Misrata to the Egyptian border, affected electricity to the wellfields and the water pumping station in Benghazi. Power began returning to the Sarir wellfield at 8:00 am, with technical teams deployed to restart operations. By 11:41 am, the Tazerbo wellfield also had its power restored, and 40 out of 50 wells were brought online, with work continuing on the remaining wells. Due to these emergency conditions, the MMR had to reduce water supplies to certain cities and agricultural projects to prevent the main pipeline from draining and to build up reserves. The MMR confirmed that standard water supplies will gradually resume once all wells are operational and reservoir levels normalize, reiterating that the well stoppage was due to the regional power outage, a situation beyond its control.