Libya’s NOC issues arrest warrants of oil smugglers

BY Libyan Express Feb 13, 2018 - 17:17

The NOC building in Tripoli (Photo: Archive)

The Libyan National Oil Corporation (NOC) on Monday confirmed that arrest warrants have been issued by the Attorney General against fuel smugglers in western Libya.

“NOC commends the Attorney General’s decision to issue arrest warrants against over 144 smugglers in western Libya. Smuggling cost the Libyan economy and citizens hundreds of millions.” The NOC said in a statement.

“Those who take part in such serious criminal acts are working against the interests of all Libyans and cause suffering in different cities of our beloved country,” NOC added

The NOC expressed willingness to “submit periodic reports and information on smuggling operations by criminal gangs to the Attorney General’s Office.”

It also expressed hope to arrest “all those who committed crimes against the Libyan people and wasted their wealth, mainly Ibrahim Al-Jadran and all those who colluded with him by supporting and inciting him to close oil ports.”

Al-Jadran was the leader of the Oil Installation Guards, who closed down major oil ports in eastern Libya for years, before the eastern-based self-styled army, led by Khalifa Haftar defeated and expelled them.

Libya has suffered losses over the past four years of more than 140 billion dollars due to frequent closures of oil fields and ports, smuggling, and low oil prices in global market

The views expressed in Op-Ed pieces are those of the author and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of Libyan Express.
How to submit an Op-Ed: Libyan Express accepts opinion articles on a wide range of topics. Submissions may be sent to oped@libyanexpress.com. Please include ‘Op-Ed’ in the subject line.