On September 1, Abdul Rahman Milad, known as “Bidja”, was fatally shot while driving near the Naval Academy in Janzour, a district west of Tripoli.

The Libyan Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by Seddiq Al-Sour, announced it has identified two individuals suspected of involvement in the killing of Abdul Rahman Milad, a controversial Libyan Coast Guard officer. Milad, implicated in human trafficking and fuel smuggling, was gunned down while driving his car on September 1 near the Naval Academy in Janzour, Tripoli’s western suburbs.

An official statement confirmed the issuance of arrest warrants for the two suspects, whose identities have not been disclosed. The authorities also recovered the vehicle used by the suspects to flee the scene and located the firearm allegedly used in the murder. The Prosecutor’s Office has directed the Ministry of Interior to carry out the arrests, as noted in a public release shared on Facebook by the judiciary.

Abdul Rahman Milad’s Controversial Legacy

Milad, better known as “Bidja,” gained notoriety due to his involvement in human smuggling and fuel smuggling operations. In 2018, he was sanctioned by the U.S. Treasury Department and the U.N. Security Council for his role in migrant trafficking, including sinking boats carrying migrants.

In 2020, the Ministry of Interior under the Government of National Accord (GNA) arrested Milad, but he was released in 2021 to a hero’s welcome in his hometown of Zawiya. Despite attempts to rehabilitate his image, Milad’s activities remained controversial. After his release, he opposed fuel smuggling and sought to align himself with formal coast guard operations, even assisting in securing a Turkish naval base in Janzour, according to Libya expert Jalel Harchaoui.

Previously aligned with Italy, Milad’s relationship with the Italians deteriorated in 2019 due to growing public concern over his criminal activities.

Adapted from Nova Agency