Maritime Fuel Smuggling Network Uncovered in Benghazi’s Old Harbour
A Lloyd’s List investigation has revealed that at least 42 tankers have made over 195 journeys to Benghazi’s old harbour in Libya over the past two years, equating to a staggering 1.4 million deadweight tons (dwt). Satellite imagery reviewed by Lloyd’s List shows a regular turnover of vessels, including larger tankers, at the old harbour, suggesting that the true number of calls is even greater and the tanker network is larger than initially estimated.
The exploitation of gasoil in Libya has been a problem for more than a decade, with smugglers taking advantage of the government’s fuel subsidy programme to sell the fuel on the black market for profit. The export of gasoil is considered illegal when not authorized by Libya’s National Oil Corporation. The state-run group has emphasized to the UN Panel of Experts on Libya that no exports are undertaken.
Fuel Smuggling Hotspot Emerges in Benghazi
Benghazi has emerged as a hotspot for seaborne smuggling over the past several years. The city is a key commercial port located in east Libya, and the old harbour (marked in the graphic below) has evolved into a bustling illicit fuel export hub.
According to the UN panel, the old harbour was previously used for the export of scrap metal. However, in March 2022, vessels began arriving to be loaded with fuel from tanker trucks, marking the beginning of its transformation into an illicit fuel export hub.
AIS Data Reveals Scale of Smuggling Activity
An analysis of Automatic Identification System (AIS) data transmitted within Benghazi’s old harbour in 2021 reveals one traceable arrival of a product tanker in September that year. General cargoships made up most traceable calls recorded in 2021, accounting for 126 of 142 arrivals. However, this activity began winding down in March 2022.
In April of that year, it started to become more common for product tankers to show up in Benghazi’s old harbour, with about one tanker each month being picked up by vessel tracking data. This data does not reflect the true scale of callings as the vast majority are done under the guise of AIS gaps, but it does reinforce the fact that scrap exports were phased out in favour of oil exports.
Smuggling Activity Moves Offline
In 2022 and 2023, some 10 and nine traceable product calls took place. However, this year, the smuggling activity has moved almost entirely offline with only two arrivals being picked up from January to August with AIS data.
“Zawiya used to be the biggest hub for maritime fuel smuggling,” explains David Soud, head of research and analysis at IR Consilium. “When the EU launched Operation Sophia and then Operation Irini to clamp down on illicit flows linked with Libya, and also incentivised some Libyan militia groups to counter those flows rather than exploit them, fuel smuggling out of the western Libyan coast slowed.”
Lower fuel volumes out of western Libya may have created the opportunity for more smuggling in eastern Libya. This may also have served the purposes of the Libyan authorities, who are reportedly struggling to contain the black market fuel trade.
The findings of this investigation highlight the significant scale and complexity of maritime fuel smuggling networks operating in Benghazi’s old harbour. The illegal trade is believed to be worth billions of dollars annually, with profits potentially financing other illicit activities.
Original Article: Oil worth $5 billion vanishes through Benghazi: How the “shadow fleet” fuels Libya’s black market • Медіа•Хаб — Hab