V_SAR Op 10.06.21 C

10 June 2021 – Op 10.06.21 C

Case C – Ubari – Interception of 151 people

Pushback from international waters to Libya of 151 people (including 10 women and 6 children) who were travelling on two different boats. The interception was carried out by the Libyan patrol boat Ubari 660. Disembarkation took place in Tripoli on the evening of 10 June.

The interception of one of the two boats (a rubber dinghy with 43 people, including 9 women and several children) appears to correspond to the case monitored by Alarm Phone and also corresponds to Operation Themis no. 443340/627889. We have no information, however, on the second intercepted vessel (possibly carrying 108 people).

The events of 10 June

On 10 June 2021, at least nine boats were at sea fleeing Libya, along with one from Tunisia. The boat that departed from Tunisia landed in Lampedusa; a wooden boat that left Libya carrying 26 people was rescued by a vessel from the NGO Geo Barents. The people on the remaining boats were instead intercepted and deported back to Libya.

The Colibrì aircraft of Pilotes Volontaires flew over and witnessed three interceptions carried out by the Libyan patrol boat Ras El Jadir 648, filming one of them.

Operation Themis recorded the pushback of 353 people from eight different boats (source: JORA database). The Libyan authorities reported 452 people from six boats were intercepted by three patrol boats (source: Rgowans). The IOM recorded 429 + 61 people intercepted (source:https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=2024392947721652&set=a.596682760492685)

JLProject identified three separate pushbacks:

• Case A: 13 people (all Libyan nationals) travelling on a fibreglass boat, intercepted by the patrol boat Zawiya 656 and disembarked in Zawiya.
• Case B: 288 people on three different boats, intercepted by the patrol boat Ras el Jadir 648 and disembarked in Tripoli.
• Case C: 151 people on two different boats, intercepted by the patrol boat Ubari 660 and disembarked in Tripoli.

Data from Themis

Operation Themis recorded eight different pushbacks to Libya on 10 June. One of the pushbacks—number 443340/627889—appears relevant to our case.

It concerns a rubber dinghy with 43 people on board, sighted at coordinates 33.3833333333, 14.4166666666 and intercepted at coordinates 33, 14.4666666666. It is likely that the Themis operator who entered the data confused the sighting and interception coordinates.

The data in Frontex’s JORA database are:

DetectionDate	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00
IncidentNumber_M3	443215	443331	443332	443333	443335	443339	443340	443342
IncidentId	627174	627855	627859	627862	627870	627881	627889	627894
num_l_MigrantsDeterred					80
num_total_persons	25	30	27	25	0	101	43	22
IncidentStatus	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted
IncidentAttachements	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
OperationName	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021
GroupedOperationName	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis
OperationStatus	Inactive	Inactive	Inactive	Inactive	Inactive	Inactive	Inactive	Inactive
OperationSectorType	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA
LocationType	LCC	LCC	LCC	LCC	LCC	LCC	LCC	LCC
ReportingCountry	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy
ReportingCountryISO	ITA	ITA	ITA	ITA	ITA	ITA	ITA	ITA
ReportingDate	10/06/2021	11/06/2021	11/06/2021	11/06/2021	11/06/2021	11/06/2021	11/06/2021	11/06/2021
ReportingTime	09:54:11	07:52:10	07:56:15	07:59:18	08:13:15	08:18:29	08:21:39	08:24:49
IncidentLastUpdate	17:57:42	13:10:42	13:11:53	13:14:21	14:52:27	13:15:31	12:04:10	13:17:10
GuestOfficerInvolved	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
EntryExit	Entry	Entry	Entry	Entry	Entry	Entry	Entry	Entry
SharedWithEurosur	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
DetectionInitiatedBy	Other	Other	Other	Other	MAS	Other	Other	Other
ReferenceToOpArea	out	out	out	out		out	out	out
DetectionLatitude	33,35	32,9	32,9	32,9		33,95	33,3833333333	33
DetectionLongitude	12,05	13,1833333333	13,1833333333	13,1666666666		11,7833333333	14,4166666666	14,4666666666
InterceptionDate	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00
InterceptionPlaceType	Prevention of departure	Prevention of departure	Prevention of departure	Prevention of departure	Prevention of departure	Prevention of departure	Prevention of departure	Prevention of departure
InterceptionLatitude	33,3666666666	32,9	32,9	32,9		33,95	33	33
InterceptionLongitude	12,0333333333	13,1666666666	13,1833333333	13,1666666666		11,7833333333	14,4666666666	14,4666666666
DetectionByFrxAsset	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
InterceptionByFrxAsset	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
OtherFrontexAssetInvolvement	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
FrontexInvolvement	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
SAR	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
PlaceOfDeparture	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia
CountryOfDeparture	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya
CountryOfDepartureISO	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY
Disembarkation	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia
DisembarkationCountry	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya
DisembarkationCountryISO	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY	LBY
num_l_TransportMeansNumber	1	1	1	1	1	1	1	1
MotherBoat	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
SpeedBoat	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
TransportType	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat
2.IncidentId	627174	627855	627859	627862	627870	627881	627889	627894
2.IncidentStatus	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted	Accepted
2.OperationName	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021
2.OperationStatus	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active	Active
2.OperationSectorType	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA	SEA
2.PrimaryIncidentType	Prevention of departure	Third Country Action	Third Country Action	Third Country Action	Prevention of departure	Third Country Action	Prevention of departure	Third Country Action
2.EntryExit				Exit		Exit	Exit	Exit
2.SAR	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2.DetectionByFrxAsset	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
2.InterceptionByFrxAsset	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2.OtherFrontexAssetInvolvement	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
2.FrontexInvolvement	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
2.ReportingCountry	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy	Italy
2.InterceptionDate	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00
2.ReportingDate	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-11T00:00:00	2021-06-11T00:00:00	2021-06-11T00:00:00	2021-06-11T00:00:00	2021-06-11T00:00:00	2021-06-11T00:00:00	2021-06-11T00:00:00
2.GeneralDate	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-10T00:00:00	2021-06-10T00:00:00
2.CountryOfDeparture	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya
2.DetectionInitiatedBy	Other	Other	Other	Other	MAS	Other	Other	Other
2.Disembarkation	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia	Libia
2.TransportType	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat
2.GroupedOperationName	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis
2.num_l_MigrantsDeterred	25				80		43
2.num_total_persons	0	30	27	25	0	101	0	22
2.num_would_be_mig	0	30	27	25	0	101	0	22
3.Operation name	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021
3.Interception date	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00	10/06/2021 0:00
3.Search and rescue involved	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
3.Operational area – In/Out	out	out	out	out		out	out	out
3.Detection latitude	33,35	32,9	32,9	32,9	33,7666666666	33,95	33,3833333333	33
3.Detection longitude	12,05	13,1833333333	13,1833333333	13,1666666666	11,8166666666	11,7833333333	14,4166666666	14,4666666666
3.Intercepted by (old)
3.Interception latitude	33,3666666666	32,9	32,9	32,9	33,8666666666	33,95	33	33
3.Interception longitude	12,0333333333	13,1666666666	13,1833333333	13,1666666666	11,85	11,7833333333	14,4666666666	14,4666666666
3.Detection by Frontex financed/deployed asset	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
3.Interception by Frontex financed/deployed asset	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
3.Frontex deployed/financed asset involved	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
3.Transport type	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat
4.GroupedOperationName	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis	Themis
4.OperationName	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021	JO Themis 2021
4.SAR	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
4.DetectionByFrxAsset	No	No	No	No	Yes	No	No	No
4.InterceptionByFrxAsset	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
4.OtherFrontexAssetInvolvement	No	No	No	No	No	No	No	No
4.ReferenceToOpArea	out	out	out	out		out	out	out
4.CountryOfDeparture	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya	Libya
4.TypeOfDetectedBy	Other	Other	Other	Other	MAS	Other	Other	Other
4.TypeOfInterceptedBy	No interception	No interception	No interception	No interception	CPV	No interception	CPV	No interception
4.TransportType	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	wooden boat	inflatable/rubber boat/zodiac boat/dinghy	wooden boat

A general analysis of the JORA database reveals an operation (627870) launched following a sighting by Frontex’s MAS (Multipurpose Aerial Surveillance). This data is consistent with aerial tracking, which shows the Frontex spy drone AS2132 flying over that specific boat. The Operation Themis notes read: “DetectionByFrxAsset: Yes” and “FrontexInvolvement: Yes.”

The sighting and interception coordinates for boats 627859, 627862, and 627855 are incorrect, as they correspond to the port of Tripoli. The interception point for boat 627889 also appears incorrect, because it is further south than the sighting point and coincides with the sighting and interception coordinates of boat 627894.

It is not possible to know with certainty which Themis cases correspond to the interceptions carried out by the patrol boat Ubari.

The Joint Operation Themis is described as a “synergy between the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) and the Italian authorities, with the support of EU Member States” (source: Italian Ministry of Defence, https://www.difesa.it/operazionimilitari/op-intern-corso/jointoperationtriton/index.html). It does not include Libyan authorities. Therefore, it is an exclusively European operation. In Europe, collective pushbacks of foreigners at the border are illegal, which is why all pushbacks carried out by Operation Themis are considered illegal by human rights activists.

Case C – 151 people intercepted by the patrol boat Ubari

Timeline

Night between 9 and 10 June: At least nine boats depart from the Libyan coast.

10 June 2021

02:00 UTC: The Frontex spy drone AS2132 takes off from Malta for a search and rescue (SAR) mission in Libyan waters. The drone quickly passes over the Maltese SAR area.

03:22 UTC: The Frontex spy drone AS2132 reaches the Libyan SAR zone and begins patrolling the area but turns west before sighting the rubber dinghy carrying 43 people.

03:59 UTC: Dawn in Tripoli.

04:15 UTC: The Frontex spy drone AS213 2 moves further west, and circles over a point at coordinates 33.683211, 13.630612. The point is consistent with our case. We cannot rule out that this corresponds to the sighting of the second boat in this case (carrying 108 people). (Source: Scandura https://x.com/scandura/status/1402929208138076165 )

Time unknown: Operation Themis (Frontex + Italian authorities) is in contact via WhatsApp with the patrol boat Ras El Jadir 648, which sends the following message to Frontex from a Libyan number (+218):

The relationship between the Libyan authorities and the military personnel involved in Operation Themis is immediately apparent: the former report to the latter with deference. (Although not directly relevant to this case, Frontex may also be in contact with the patrol boat Ubari.)

After 06:06: The Frontex spy drone AS2132 participates in the pushbacks carried out by the patrol boat Ras El Jadir 648 (see Case B dossier in our database) in a maritime area west of Tripoli, off the coast of Zuwara. (Not relevant to this case.)

Before 07:46 UTC: The patrol boat Ras El Jadir intercept at least one vessel (see Case B).

07:46 UTC: The aircraft Colibrì flies over and films one of the three interceptions carried out by the patrol boat Ras El Jadir 648 at coordinates 33N27, 11E43. The interception point lies along the AS2132 drone’s flight path. (see Case B.)

09:49 UTC: Alarm Phone reports being in contact with the rubber dinghy carrying 43 people. The area is later confirmed to be east of Tripoli, off the coast of Khoms. Coordinates: GD 33.04, 14.420833333333333; DMS N 33° 2′ 24″ E 14° 25′ 15″. Source: https://x.com/alarm_phone/status/1402926004247613448

11:11 UTC: The Frontex spy drone AS2132 circles over a third point at coordinates 33.559707, 12.444215. This is where the boat later rescued by Geo Barents was sighted. Fact NOT relevant to this case. (Source: Scandura https://x.com/scandura/status/1402929208138076165)

Then the AS2132 drone continues to assist Ras El Jadir 648 in the pushbacks of Case B.

Before 12:07: INTERCEPTION of the dinghy carrying 43 people by the patrol boat Ubari.

JLProject note: The patrol boat intercepted a total of 151 people from two boats, meaning it also intercepted another vessel with 108 people; though it is unclear whether this occurred before or after.

12:07 UTC: Alarm Phone loses contact with the dinghy carrying 43 people. It has been intercepted.

SOS! ~43 people adrift off #Libya!

The people on board the boat in distress tell us that water is entering and that they've been at sea for over a day. They are in panic and ask for urgent help. We informed authorities and demand the immediate launch of a rescue operation.

— @alarmphone (@alarm_phone) June 10, 2021

15:09 UTC: On its way back to Malta, the Frontex spy drone AS2132 circles over another point. This may be the second boat in our case.

18:14 UTC: Sunset in Tripoli.

Between 18:40 and 20:26 UTC: DISEMBARKATION IN TRIPOLI.
The patrol boat Ubari660 brings the 151 intercepted people ashore at the port of Tripoli. Libyan militiamen film a video (see below, materials section) in which the number 660 corresponding to the patrol boat Ubari is clearly visible.

In the video, UNHCR staff appear to be collecting personal data from pushback victims.

20:26 UTC (22:26 CAT): UNHCR assists people deported by the patrol boats Ras El Jadir and Ubari, some of whom appear injured. They post details and photographs on Twitter: https://x.com/UNHCRLibya/status/1403086260055465984m

Case Photographic Material

The extensive video and photographic material allow for many of the 151 intercepted individuals to be identified. This material includes:

Rgowans’ post with the video of the disembarkation, at the link https://x.com/rgowans/status/1403320062690349062

The same video is also on YouTube at the link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ1YHHS5xwo in a version 7 seconds longer, containing the logo of the so-called Libyan Coast Guard. There is also a text in Arabic:

في إطار الجهود الأنسانية والمهام السيادية لحماية السواحل الليبية وتقديم خدمات البحث والانقاذ في منطقة المسؤولية الليبية وإنقاذ حياة المهاجرين غير الشرعيين عبر البحر تمكن زورق الدورية التابع لحرس السواحل الليبية يوم أمس الموافق (10.6.2021) من إنقاذ (151 مهاجر من الجنسيات الافريقية ) كانوا في طريقهم نحو الشواطئ الأوروبية على متن زورق مطاطي . وفور تلقيه نداء استغاثة تم تحريك الزورق (أوباري) بعد تجهيزه بالإمكانات اللازمة لعملية الإنقاذ والانتشال إلى (عين المكان) حيث قام عناصر الجهاز بدورهم على أكمل وجه. وفور إتمام عملية الإنقاذ تم إنزال المهاجرين في (نقطة إنزال قاعدة طرابلس البحرية) وتم نقلهم جميعا” إلي جهاز مكافحة الهجرة غير الشرعية. هذا وسيتابع جهاز مكافحة الهجرة في إطار دوره الإنساني عملية رعاية هؤلاء المهاجرين وإتمام إجراءات ترحيلهم إلى بلدانهم سالمين.

Translation: As part of humanitarian efforts and sovereign missions to protect the Libyan coast, provide search and rescue services in the Libyan area of responsibility, and save the lives of illegal migrants at sea, a Libyan Coast Guard patrol boat rescued 151 African migrants on Saturday, 10 June 2021, who were heading towards European shores aboard a rubber dinghy.

After receiving a distress call, the Ubari vessel, equipped with the necessary capabilities for the rescue and recovery operation, was dispatched to the scene, where the crew performed their duties to the best of their ability.

After the rescue operation was completed, the migrants were disembarked at the Tripoli Naval Base and transferred to the Anti-Illegal Immigration Authority.

In its humanitarian role, the Anti-Illegal Immigration Authority will continue to care for these migrants and complete the procedures for their safe return to their home countries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQ1YHHS5xwo

UNHCR photographs

A post published by UNHCR Libya on Twitter at 20:26 UTC: https://x.com/UNHCRLibya/status/1403086260055465984

The post contains four photographs. One – taken in daylight – refers to the Ras El Jadir case. It is not possible to determine with certainty which of the three nighttime photos refers to the Ras El Jadir disembarkation (Case B) and which to that of the patrol boat Ubari660 (this case, Case C).

Newspaper article on 10 June

Link: https://libyaobserver.ly/inbrief/439-eu-bound-migrants-rescued-libyan-coast-guard

Two vessels belonging to the Libyan Coast Guard conducted two separate rescue operations on Thursday, June 10, saving 439 immigrants of African and Asian nationalities, who were sailing on rubber dinghies, heading towards European shores.

The spokesperson for the Libyan Naval Forces Chief of Staff explained that the two rescue vessels headed out as soon as the distress call was received, with both vessels being fully equipped to carry out the rescue operations.

He went on to add that the migrants were subsequently disembarked at the Tripoli Naval Base landing point, having been rescued, where they were transferred to the Anti-Illegal Immigration Authority for processing.

Italmilradar post on the Irini mission

#IRINI mission for this Frecnh Navy Dassault Flacon 50 (5) departed NAS Hyères#Libya pic.twitter.com/c0YXRnhHvO

— itamilradar (@ItaMilRadar) June 10, 2021

Facebook post: Rgowans’ first post is copied from this Facebook account on 11 June at 12:46 UTC (link).

Aerial tracking by Sergio Scandura

Journalist Sergio Scandura tracks the route of the AS2132 drone and shares it in a Twitter thread (link: https://x.com/scandura/status/1402929208138076165)

Today in area 🔢
2021-06-10
0859z ⏱️ 10:59 CEST

SAR busy

🛩️ Frontex drone 🇪🇺 #AS2132 (571) IAI/Airbus UAV Heron Shoval, #Malta #LMML based, is making a mission over Libyan SRR.

0625z > 0639z 🔄orbiting📏 42 nm N Abu Kammash (33 47N 011 47E)#migrants #Libya #migranti #Libia pic.twitter.com/gz6gthahlX

— Sergio Scandura (@scandura) June 10, 2021

1⃣_C

2021-06-10
1559z ⏱️ 17:59 CEST

🛩️ Frontex drone 🇪🇺 #AS2132 (571) IAI/Airbus UAV Heron Shoval, departed @ 04:08 CEST, is landed in Malta/Luqa 🇲🇹 @ 15:59 CEST: mission over Libyan SRR completed (13h 51m).#migrants #Libya #migranti #Libia pic.twitter.com/lBcDDWdOty

— Sergio Scandura (@scandura) June 10, 2021

1⃣_B
2021-06-10
1258z ⏱️ 14:58 CEST

SAR busy/2

🛩️ Frontex drone 🇪🇺 #AS2132 (571) IAI/Airbus UAV Heron Shoval, #Malta #LMML based, over Libyan SRR.

1111z > 1223z 🔄orbiting📏 46 nm N Sabrata (33 34N 012 27E)#migrants #Libya #migranti #Libia pic.twitter.com/p4yDTU8Rqx

— Sergio Scandura (@scandura) June 10, 2021

Chats between Operation Themis and Libyan militias

The German organisation Frag den Staat obtained evidence of direct WhatsApp communications between Frontex and the so-called Libyan Coast Guard (scLCG) from 18 May to 14 June 2021. In the message transcripts, most details were redacted by Frontex on the grounds that they constituted “sensitive operational data.” However, exchanges between Frontex and a Libyan phone number (+218) are visible. Given the context, this number is likely associated with a Libyan organisation, probably the scLCG. In several exchanges on 18 May, 27 May, 11 June, 12 June and 14 June 2021, audio recordings, photos, locations, boat sightings and potential distress cases were shared, reflecting cooperation between the two entities in maritime interceptions. (Source: https://www.ecchr.eu/fileadmin/Redacted_Article_15_Communication_to_the_ICC__Situation_in_Libya_Interceptions_of_Migrants_and_Refugees_at_Sea_as_Crimes_Against_Humanity.pdf).)

The chats can be viewed here:

The chats in our possession appear to involve the Ras El Jadir patrol boat, but Operation Themis may also have been in contact with the Ubari patrol boat. Further access to Frontex documents could clarify this point.

Investigation status

Preliminary investigations are concluded.

To reconstruct the case fully, access to Frontex records would be necessary, as they contain information on contacts between Operation Themis and Libyan militiamen, as well as any aerial photos taken by the AS2132 drone.

Alarm Phone, which had contact with one of the two intercepted boats, may also hold additional information.

Access to UNHCR records would also be valuable, as the disembarkation video shows its staff collecting personal data. However, UNHCR has consistently refused to respond to such requests, maintaining its role as a collaborator with Libyan militias and the Italian government in pushback operations (e.g., the Asso Ventotto case).

JLProject has not yet found the intercepted individuals.