Did Italy Just Assassinate Libya's Migrant Smuggling Kingpin?

Daily Beast ^ | 09.26.15 | Barbie Latza Nadeau

[aquila48]

ROME – For months, humanitarian aid workers and Europe’s leaders have been wringing their hands about how to stop the human traffickers who are responsible for the deluge of migrants and refugees making the dangerous crossing from Libyan ports to European shores. There has been talk of everything from destroying smugglers ships to infiltrating the traffickers’ networks, but apparently a more basic plan was also in the works.

On Saturday morning Salah Al-Maskhout, a former henchman for Muammar Gaddafi thought to be the mastermind behind the main Mediterranean trafficking ring operating in the seas between North Africa and Europe, was killed in Tripoli during an ambush along with eight of his body guards.

[dennisw]

That’s one way to put a dent in the Muslim refugee flow. We should do the same on our Mexican border.

[Arm_Bears]

Hopefully so.

[Captainpaintball]

I hope they put him in a wood chipper greased with pork fat.

[Fungi]

Just as in Iraq, the vestiges of a corrupt regime are slow to die. This will be a problem wherever there is the false religion of Islam.

[lee martell]

La Vendetta e’ il nostro!

[dfwgator]

That’s what I’ve been saying all along, hunt down the smugglers and make them die a dog’s death.

[Neidermeyer]

I like the way you think.

[sockmonkey]

The smuggling rings are like the Mexican cartels. I figure the competition took him out, and I won’t jump to conclusions that the Italian government did it.

[gov_bean_ counter]

...keep the cannoli.

[dfwgator]

“Oh Salah, you won’t be seeing him no more.”

[Ken522]

To have enough firepower to kill him AND his eight bodyguards takes a lot of planning and coordination .. do you think his competition would have the resources to accomplish this?

[glorgau]

> was killed in Tripoli during an ambush along with eight of his body guards.

In this case, eight was not enough...

[ClearCase_guy]

*cough* Check Norris *cough*

[Pearls Before Swine]

I hope so too, but it could also be a local turf war over the smuggling business. I find the “head hem off at sea” initiative hopeful, tho.

[ClearCase_guy]

Chuck not Check. I hate auto correct.

[gov_bean_ counter]

Ha!

[lapsus calami]

 

 

"Al-Maskhout, who is wanted in Italy on human trafficking charges, was reportedly swiftly killed along with his men, even though local media reported that they were armed with Kalashnikov semi-automatic rifles while the attackers used smaller handguns. The incident took place as Al-Maskhout, who is said to run the trafficking ring from Zuwara, left a family property near the Tripoli Medical Centre."

 

 

If this report is accurate, then it was a hit by skilled professionals.

 

 

[mrsmel]

I hate spell chuck too.

[Berlin_Freeper]

CIA