According to a report by a major European intelligence centre, the various Libyan militias have raised more than €520 million in one year by organising or facilitating the smuggling of African migrants to Europe.

This proximity between migration trafficking and Libyan militias, some of which are jihadist in nature, is a growing concern for the anti-terrorist services. This very lucrative trade not only gives the militias considerable manna, which they use to arm themselves and finance subversive activities. It also provides them with privileged access to operational channels that they could use to infiltrate jihadist elements responsible for carrying out attacks in Europe among migratory flows.