U.S. sanctions against oil smugglers receives Libyan welcome

By Sami Zaptia.

London, 8 August 2020:

The U.S. imposition of sanctions on Thursday against Libyan and Maltese smugglers of its oil has received positive Libyan acclaim.

Fathi Bashagha, the Interior Minister of the internationally recognized Libyan government said the U.S. Treasury Department sanctions are just ‘‘the tip of the iceberg’’. He added that sanctions will strike at corrupt people who have contributed to undermining peace and spreading chaos and division in the Libya.

Tweeting on his personal Twitter account, Bashagha added that his Interior Ministry is working closely with international anti-corruption authorities and monitoring money laundering operations, stressing that they will not hesitate to expose corrupt people, no matter where they are.

Meanwhile, Libya’s state National Oil Corporation (NOC) welcomed the U.S. sanctions on the network of smugglers that it said has contributed significantly to the destabilization of Libya.

It added that it will continue to monitor fuel smuggling operations in the various regions of Libya, and work with the Public Prosecutor’s Office and the UN Security Council Sanctions Committee to hold those involved in these illegal acts accountable.

U.S. imposes financial sanctions on Libyans, Maltese company and vessel for smuggling fuel and drugs

NOC welcomes unprecedented UN sanctions against human traffickers

UN imposes unprecedented sanctions on six Libya human traffickers

Fuel smugglers’ sites bombed by Air Force, petrol stations shut down as part of continuing anti fuel smuggling drive

PC Air Force supports NOC’s anti-fuel smuggling initiative

Libyan fuel smuggling is part of an international smuggling network: Attorney General’s office

PFG Western division Nasr brigade withdraws from Zawia refinery after Sanalla public accusation of fuel smuggling collusion

Gatrani alerts Maltese government to the illegality of fuel smuggling from Libya to Malta