A court in the Netherlands has sentenced an Eritrean man to 20 years in prison in what prosecutors describe as the country’s largest migrant smuggling case to date. The ruling marks a significant moment in European efforts to hold leaders of transnational smuggling networks accountable for abuses committed along migration routes.
The court in Zwolle found Amanuel W. guilty of leading a criminal network that smuggled migrants toward Europe through Libya. Judges said the group operated with extreme cruelty and focused only on making money from vulnerable people searching for safety and a better future. Prosecutors had asked for the maximum sentence, and the court agreed.
According to the charges, the network was involved in human smuggling, extortion, violence, and money laundering. Victims were allegedly held in detention-like conditions in Libya, where they were abused while their families were pressured to send ransom payments. Only after money was received would captives be allowed to continue their journey.
Legal experts say the case is unusual because many of the crimes took place outside Europe. However, Dutch authorities argued they had jurisdiction because some of the victims’ relatives who paid ransom money were living in the Netherlands. The court accepted this argument, allowing the prosecution to move forward even though the abuses happened mainly in Libya.
Amanuel W. was extradited to the Netherlands from Ethiopia in 2022. Investigators said they gathered evidence from multiple countries and worked with international partners to build the case. Dutch prosecutors also launched appeals for witnesses in Sudan and Libya as part of their efforts to document crimes that allegedly took place over several years.
Migration experts say the case shows how migrant smuggling can easily turn into human trafficking. While smuggling usually involves payment for transport across borders, trafficking often includes exploitation, violence, and forced labor. Survivors and activists have described harsh conditions in Libya, where many migrants are trapped in cycles of detention, abuse, and ransom demands.
The case has drawn attention across Europe because it highlights the brutal realities faced by many migrants along the central Mediterranean route. Thousands of people fleeing war, persecution, or poverty pass through Libya each year, often relying on smugglers due to a lack of legal migration options. Human rights groups have repeatedly reported violence, torture, and extortion in unofficial detention centers.
Legal specialists also see the ruling as part of a broader trend in Europe to target high-level organizers of smuggling operations, not just low-level boat drivers. By prosecuting alleged leaders, authorities hope to disrupt the financial networks behind the trade. However, some experts argue that enforcement alone will not stop smuggling as long as safe and legal migration routes remain limited.
The European Union has been working on new migration and asylum rules aimed at strengthening border controls and speeding up returns. At the same time, debates continue over how to balance security measures with humanitarian protection. Some legal scholars say creating more legal pathways for asylum and work could reduce migrants’ dependence on criminal networks.
Dutch prosecutors say their investigation is ongoing and that more suspects linked to the same network are expected to appear in court later this year. Another Eritrean suspect has already been extradited to the Netherlands and is due to face an initial court hearing soon. Authorities believe the case may help uncover more details about how transnational smuggling groups operate between Africa and Europe.
For many observers, the sentence sends a strong signal that European courts are willing to pursue complex international cases involving serious abuses against migrants. At the same time, it shows the continuing human cost of irregular migration routes and the urgent need for safer alternatives.