Germany drew its military ships from Operation Sofia

Germany suspends participation in Operation Sofia, the EU naval force created to combat human trafficking in the Mediterranean.

Operation Sofia began in 2015. It is tasked with apprehending traffickers and destroying this business model, while training Libyan coastal guard and applying an arms embargo for the ongoing conflict in the north of this African country.

According to “Bundeswehr” (German military), Operation Sofia has brought the arrest of Italian authorities of more than 140 people suspected of trafficking since it started. Moreover, more than 400 boats used by traffickers have been destroyed, the ATSH writes.

The German ship's mandate in the operation was renovated in December by three months and ends at the end of March. /Kosovo pres/