TUNIS, Nov 16 (NNN-XINHUA) — Tunisia recently foiled 17 illegal immigration attempts to cross the Mediterranean Sea to Italy, said the Tunisian National Guard.
“Tunisia’s maritime guard thwarted these illegal immigration attempts Wednesday off the country’s southeastern and central coasts,” the Tunisian National Guard said in a statement posted on its Facebook page.
The guard units also rescued 543 immigrants of sub-Saharan African nationalities from sinking boats, said the statement.
A total of 20 boats were seized, and 16 wanted persons were arrested, it added.
Located in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration to Europe.
Although Tunisian authorities have adopted rigorous measures to tackle the problem, the number of illegal immigrants heading to Italy has been on the rise. — NNN-XINHUA
