Frontex and Libya

The Times (December 12) carried two interesting letters on the issue of Libya, sea patrols and illegal immigrants.

Jimmy Magro asked pertinently what Frontex sea patrols would do when they view a boat full of people.

Like all policemen, Frontex's main task will be that of a deterrent. It is now common knowledge that boat people are the victims of traffickers in human beings.

Sometimes the boats that reach Malta are dropped from larger "mother ships", which then return to Libya. Adequate patrols by Frontex should reduce, if not eliminate, such traffic. Joe Morana - even more pertinently - questioned Libya's role in the matter. It is well known that it is impossible for anyone to leave Libya against the will of the Libyan government. Some Maltese businessmen who had commercial differences with Libyan counterparts discovered that at their cost.

I, therefore, find it hard to believe that the Libyan government is unable to come to grips with a handful of traffickers who must be using a few points of departure. I hope Libya is not wielding this as a weapon to pressure the Maltese government, and indeed Malta.