UNSC Approves EU Mission to Intercept and Seize Migrant Trafficker Vessels

The UN Security Council adopted on Friday a resolution approving the EU naval mission to intercept and seize migrant trafficker vessels in the Mediterranean.

The UK-drafted resolution provides greater legitimacy to the Operation Sophia, which was launched on Wednesday, allowing warships from several European states to board, search and seize vessels suspected of trafficking migrants in international waters from Libya to Europe.

The European Union is currently grappling with a major refugee crisis, with thousands of migrants attempting to reach EU member states through various routes, mainly by crossing the Mediterranean.

In late June, the European Union launched the EUNAVFOR (European Union Naval Force) Med mission directed against human traffickers who smuggle migrants from North Africa to Europe.
 (Sputnik)
 9/10/15
--
-
Related[1]:

• U.N. council OKs mission against human trafficking off Libya...

• Britain seeks U.N. vote on operation against migrant smugglers

Related[2]:

• EU launches operation to seize migrant smugglers' boats

• EU to capture smugglers' boats in Mediterranean

• Bulgaria to join EU operation against human smugglers in Mediterranean

• EU to launch operation against Libya migrant smugglers

• EU ministers to push ambitious naval force plan

 --