Three Libyan militia killed in shootout with drug smugglers near Algerian border

Three Libyan fighters from Tripoli's 444 Brigade were killed in clashes with drug smugglers in the desert near the Algerian border this week, the Brigade said in a statement according to Reuters. 444 Brigade said the clashes which lasted for hours, “had thwarted smuggling of approximately 5 million narcotic pills. The brigade- one of Tripoli's strongest military forces- regularly patrols areas south of the capital and other towns to combat smuggling.

In the wake of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled Muammar Gaddafi, smugglers have taken advantage of Libya’s instability and lack of central authority to expand their operations. The brigade posted footage online showing desert patrols, piles of cardboard boxes topped with samples of white-red pills, and two suspected smugglers kneeling with their hands above their heads.

Libyan officials are working with African counterparts on anti-smuggling efforts.  At a workshop in Tripoli this week, officials from 26 countries agreed to enhance coordination, combat smuggling, and cut off its financing sources, according to Libya’s foreign ministry.