In Libya, on the road to Europe, migrants and refugees are subjected to ‘human trafficking for ransom’. They are extorted, kidnapped, or sold and detained in trafficking camps, where they are forced to pay ransoms for their release. The conditions in these detention facilities are horrific, characterized by a lack of food, water, and proper hygiene. Migrants and refugees report regular beatings, torture, sexual violence, and killings. The torture is broadcast to the victims’ relatives to instill fear and expedite ransom payments. By exploring the concept of the ‘human trafficking cycle’, this study seeks to explain the persistence of these human rights violations reported by survivors on the southwestern and southeastern routes of Libya between 2016 and 2021. The cycle comprises various elements, irregularity, insecurity, discrimination, commodification, exploitation, and vulnerability, that trap victims in a continuous cycle of abuse. This ethnographic research is based on 160 interviews conducted between 2019 and 2022, primarily in Tunisia, Niger, and Sudan. The interviews include migrants, refugees, former smugglers, and experts, providing a comprehensive perspective on human trafficking for ransom, taking the viewpoint of survivors. The study is committed to addressing migration as a critical human rights issue.