The Ministry of Interior said on Saturday that it had arrested a gang for encroaching public forests in the Municipality of Garabulli, east of Tripoli.
"The gang has destroyed the forest landscape by cutting trees, and used fake documents of ownership to take over the lands in this area," a statement by the Interior Ministry said on Facebook.
A security force from the Interior Ministry, in coordination with the Agricultural Police and the Garabulli Security Directorate, has carried out the arrest operation.
"The encroachers were surrounded in the forest and were caught in the act of crime," the ministry explained, confirming that they also seized the machinery they were using, before referring the encroachers to the Public Prosecution Office to complete legal procedures.
Earlier this month, the Zintan Municipality also voiced concern that some citizens are encroaching on and clearing public land in the municipality, including what is known as the "Apple Farm", located in the center of Zintan region.
