FILE – Migrants and refugees crowd aboard a rubber boat sailing out of control in the Mediterranean Sea about 21 miles north of Sabratha, Libya, Feb. 3, 2017.

Mogadishu (HOL) — Somali authorities have detained a Somali-origin individual holding European nationality suspected of participating in a human trafficking network targeting young Somalis, the Immigration and Citizenship Agency (ICA) said Thursday evening.

The suspect was flagged during a border screening after advanced document verification systems detected discrepancies in travel records. Officials said the arrest was part of a wider government effort to curb illegal migration and dismantle transnational crime rings exploiting Somali youth.

The ICA’s ability to identify discrepancies likely stems from its recent integration with Interpol’s I-24/7 platform, launched in June through a U.S.-backed program connecting Somali airports to global watchlists.

ICA officials said the suspect has been transferred to the Somali Police Force’s Criminal Investigation Department (CID) for questioning and legal proceedings. Authorities have not released the individual’s name or nationality, citing the sensitivity of the ongoing investigation.

Investigators believe the suspect is linked to a cross-border trafficking syndicate operating between the Horn of Africa, the Middle East, and parts of Europe.

The arrest follows a crackdown announced in May, when Attorney General Suleiman Mohamed unveiled new prosecution mechanisms after Somalia joined the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime.

Human trafficking remains a growing threat in Somalia, where unemployment and insecurity continue to drive many young people toward smugglers offering false promises of work abroad. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, the ICA said it prevented 124 young Somalis from embarking on unauthorized journeys to Europe, Asia, and Africa.

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) has warned that criminal networks profit from vulnerable migrants who often face detention, abuse, or death along the route.

The Somali government has urged citizens to avoid irregular migration routes and report suspected traffickers. Officials said enhanced border controls and international partnerships are essential to dismantling trafficking operations active across the region.

The CID is expected to release additional details once the investigation concludes.