Ethiopian Federal Police, in a significant international sting operation concluded on April 6, 2026, announced the arrest of Yitbarek Dawit, a notorious international human trafficker, and nine accomplices in Shire. Dawit is allegedly responsible for trafficking over 3,000 individuals, the deaths of more than 100 victims, and the rape of over 50 women since 2018. The coordinated effort involved intelligence sharing with the Regional Operational Centre in Support of the Khartoum Process and identified over 70 key traffickers globally. The syndicate, which controlled over 3 billion Birr, targeted vulnerable youth from East African nations, trafficking them to Libya for ransom under brutal conditions, including severe abuse and sexual violence. The case has been transferred to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution, with assets frozen and bank accounts seized.