Japa: Tunisia arrests 1,200 illegal migrants in 24 hours

Tunisia is a major starting point for illegal immigrants as they try to sneak into the Italian island of Lampedusa.

News Agency of Nigeria • September 19, 2023

Migrants used to illustrate th story

Tunisian security units have arrested 1,200 people of different nationalities who planned to cross the Mediterranean to Europe illegally, local media reported.

“The arrest operations were carried out by National Guard units during a security campaign in the southeastern province of Sfax to stop the illegal immigration waves,” Houcemeddine Jbabli, spokesman for the Tunisian National Guard, said.

He added that the security units also arrested a number of organisers of the trips across the sea and seized wooden boats.

The security campaign carried out on Saturday on the island of Kerkennah in Sfax province witnessed an aerial operation with the participation of many special security units and rapid intervention teams.

The campaign was carried out against the backdrop of the coast of the province becoming a major starting point for illegal immigrants as they tried to sneak into the Italian island of Lampedusa.

The island of Lampedusa, the usual first stop by illegal immigrants on their sea voyage to Italy, is only about 80km from the Tunisian coasts.

(Xinhua/NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.