Ethiopia's Federal High Court Lideta Branch convicted 11 individuals of smuggling over 3,887 people illegally for personal profit exceeding 4 billion birr. The court detailed their operations across Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Libya. Victims were transported to Europe with false job promises.
The Federal High Court Lideta Branch's 3rd Special Criminal Bench convicted the 11 accused under Ethiopia's 1996 Criminal Code and the Anti-Human Smuggling Proclamation No. 1178/2012. The ruling detailed their violations in 16 counts.
The group organized smuggling networks spanning Ethiopia, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Libya. They lured victims with promises of European jobs, transported them through Bahir Dar and Gondar to the Sudan border illegally, and held them hostage in Sudan and Libya until families paid ransoms ranging from 7,500 to 12,000 dollars.
First accused Yitbarek Dawit led the networks, directing victim movements and smuggling routes. Second accused Theodros Ayene managed operations, embezzled funds from victims' families, and distributed payments to team members. Between 2015 and mid-2018, they smuggled 3,887 people and collected over 4.025 billion birr from relatives.
Accused and subordinates called victims' families, threatening harm or death if payments were not made promptly, and shared videos of mistreatment. The court convicted them of severe human smuggling, money laundering via illegal banking channels, and related crimes.