Coast Guard units had foiled 308 irregular migration operations and arrested 4,376 individuals who were planning to illegally cross the sea borders to Italy during the period from January 1 to May 31, 2021, said official spokesman for the National Guard General Directorate Houssemeddine Jébabli.

He indicated Sunday in a statement to TAP that 1,845 Tunisians and 2,531 foreigners had attempted to cross the sea borders illegally, adding that the interceptions had been carried out proactively through rescue operations after water had infiltrated their boats.

According to the General Border Directorate statistics, the navy guard units in the various governorates had thwarted 224 irregular migration operations and intercepted 1,595 Tunisians and 1,962 foreigners attempting to cross the sea borders to Italy during the last five months of 2021.

The security units under the General Directorate of Public Security foiled 84 irregular migration operations and the attempts of 819 individuals to illegally cross the sea borders to Italy, including 550 individuals of Tunisian nationality, according to the statistics of the General Directorate of Public Security.

Besides, Jebabli recalled that these operations are conducted in coordination with Italy and Libya, as part of international cooperation and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The coast guard units in Nabeul, Sfax, Kerkenah and Sousse succeeded at the beginning of June in thwarting irregular migration operations and in saving more than 150 individuals, both Tunisian and African nationals.

Source: TAP News Agency