Kidane Zekarias Habtemariam, from Eritrea, was wanted by police in Ethiopia and the Netherlands.

The international policing agency said the Eritrean national headed a major criminal organisation behind the kidnapping, extortion and murder of East African migrants.

It said the arrest was the result of an international police operation.

This sounds like a rare breakthrough in the struggle to stop the cruel and unscrupulous traffickers who have caused the deaths of so many migrants.

Interpol said Mr Kidane was the kingpin of a criminal gang behind the trafficking of thousands of victims.

He was arrested after police in the United Arab Emirates focused on money laundering activities and found him in Sudan.

Interpol said this was a significant blow to a major smuggling route towards Europe. It said it showed what can be achieved when countries work together.

He was convicted in absentia and sentenced to life imprisonment after escaping from custody in Ethiopia while on trial on people smuggling charges in 2020.

His lawyer has previously denied the accusations against him.