Libyan investigators have discovered the bodies of 28 migrants in a mass grave near a detention facility in the desert region of southern Libya, the Attorney General’s Office announced on Sunday.

The grave was found north of the city of Kufra, where dozens of migrants had been held in inhumane conditions. Security forces successfully freed 76 migrants from the facility, officials confirmed.

Authorities suspect that a criminal gang had “deprived illegal migrants of their liberty, tortured them, and subjected them to cruel, degrading, and inhuman treatment.”

Kufra, located in the remote desert region near the Egyptian and Sudanese borders, is a known hotspot for human trafficking. Libya, plagued by years of civil war, remains a dangerous transit point for migrants attempting to reach Europe.

Criminal networks, some of which are linked to armed groups and state agencies, exploit migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Reports of severe human rights violations, including unlawful killings, forced labour, and human trafficking for sexual exploitation, continue to emerge.

The discovery highlights the persistent dangers faced by migrants in Libya and the urgent need for international intervention.