One of the most harrowing episodes in the opera Ali exposes malpractices still rife in Libya today. The country has long served as a major transit point for migrants and refugees looking to reach the safe haven of Europe. Tens of thousands, however, have seen their hopes dashed when finding themselves detained and exploited by criminal networks and militias thriving in the country’s current political climate. Ali, twelve years old at the time, was one of them. Investigative journalist Mahmoud Elsobky has been researching the issue for fifteen years, speaking to scores of witnesses and in this article he outlines the people smugglers’ revenue model and the human toll their practices take.