TUNIS, Apr 8 (NNN-TAP) – The Tunisian coast guards have thwarted 501 illegal immigration attempts, in the first quarter of this year, the Tunisian National Guard said, yesterday.
A total of 14,406 people, including 13,138 from sub-Saharan African countries, were rescued between Jan and Mar, while trying to cross the Mediterranean Sea towards the Italian coast, Spokesman for the Tunisian National Guard, Houcemeddine Jbabli, said in a statement.
To combat illegal immigration, the Tunisian coast guards arrested 63 people for being involved in organising illegal immigration trips and seized 135 boats, according to the statement.
Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration to Europe.
The number of undocumented immigrants attempting to reach Italy via Tunisia has been on the rise, despite the strict measures taken by the Tunisian authorities to tackle illegal immigration.
