The Big Story A journalist's near-death experience in Libya: the Outlaw Ocean Project
Jun 27, 2025
Ian Urbina, Director of the Outlaw Ocean Project and host of the Outlaw Ocean podcast, shares gripping tales from the frontlines of migration reporting. He recounts the harrowing story of Aliou Candé, a migrant whose dreams were cut short by violence in a Libyan prison. Urbina also reflects on his own near-death experience while exposing the dangers migrants face and the brutal realities of human trafficking. He emphasizes the critical role of journalists in shedding light on these hidden atrocities, risking their lives for truth.
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Aliou Candé's Migration Journey
- Aliou Candé was a climate migrant from Guinea-Bissau seeking a better life in Europe.
- He got captured by the Libyan Coast Guard during a boat journey to Italy and imprisoned in harsh conditions.
Restricted Access and Drone Recon
- Ian Urbina's team was put under house arrest after pushing limits in Libya.
- They used a drone covertly to gather evidence inside a notorious migrant prison, defying government blocks.
Revealing Aliou's Prison Death
- Migrants in Gargarash recounted Aliou's prison fight and death in detail.
- A cellmate kept a diary that was vital to piecing together the grim events in the secret prison.