A Dutch court is set to deliver a verdict this week in one of Europe’s most significant human trafficking trials, involving an Eritrean man accused of orchestrating a transnational network that subjected migrants to torture, extortion, and deadly Mediterranean crossings. The suspect, identified as Amanuel W., faces charges of leading a criminal organization responsible for “human trafficking of the most horrific nature,” according to prosecutors.
Victims, primarily from Eritrea, were allegedly transported through Libya under brutal conditions before being forced onto unseaworthy boats bound for Europe. Prosecutors claim Amanuel W. oversaw a system where migrants were starved, denied medical care, and tortured until relatives paid ransoms. Many drowned during the perilous sea journey.
The defendant, in custody since October 2022, has denied all charges, citing mistaken identity. His lawyers argue double jeopardy, citing a prior trial in Ethiopia. Six other suspects are also on trial in what Dutch authorities call the country’s largest human trafficking case to date.
Jurisdiction was established after evidence showed victims’ families in the Netherlands were extorted for thousands of euros. Prosecutors are seeking a 20-year sentence for Amanuel W., emphasizing the need to address cross-border organized crime networks exploiting vulnerable populations.
