Suspected human trafficking kingpin arrested in Sudan

A suspected ringleader of one of the biggest human trafficking organizations was arrested in a joint Sudanese-Italian-British security operation, said a joint statement by Sudanese Interior Ministry and Italian and British Embassies in Khartoum Wednesday.

"Medhanie Yehdego Mered, Eritrean, 35, who had been on a wanted list since 2015 for international people smuggling, was arrested in the Sudanese capital Khartoum on May 24 and flown to Italy late Monday," the statement said.

Mered's organization was accused of involvement in organizing trips for migrants toward the coast of Sicily, it said.

The statement said Mered was responsible for packing migrants onto a boat that sank in 2013 off the Italian island of Lampedusa, claiming at least 360 lives.

Sudan has recently been witnessing increasing organized groups active in human trafficking and illegal immigration.

In October 2014, Sudan hosted an international conference on combating human trafficking and illegal immigration with participation of African and European countries.

Khartoum says it is maintaining a high-level coordination with Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya and Tunisia from Africa besides Italy, Spain, France and Britain to face the phenomenon.

Sudan is considered one of the crosspoints for human trafficking and illegal immigration.

Earlier, European countries have vowed to support Sudan to combat human trafficking after Khartoum asked for logistical air and sea supports to pursue the multi-national human smugglers. Endit