Tunisia arrests 49 for attempting to illegally migrate to Europe

Tunisian security forces arrested 49 people who attempted to illegally cross the Mediterranean toward the European coasts in the past two days, Tunis Afrique presse (TAP) reported Tuesday.

"A unit of the Tunisian Maritime Guard intercepted a stolen boat on Sunday night with 14 people on board," Houssem Jbabli, spokesman of the National Guard, was quoted by TAP as saying.

The arrestees, five of whom are wanted for common civil cases, are from the provinces of Tunis and Sfax, according to Jbabli.

The maritime guards also seized important sums pf money in foreign currency, he added.

In a second operation that took place in Kerkennah Islands in Sfax, eight people aged between 20 and 32 were arrested for preparing an illegal immigration attempt.

In Nabeul Province, the maritime guards intercepted 21 people in a boat off Korba's coast, trying to cross illegally the Mediterranean.

Six others were arrested in the coastal town of Kelibia in Nabeul.

These individuals, who are from the provinces of Tunis, Manouba and Beja, have admitted to planning to illegally reach Italy from the coasts of Kelibia, 70 km away from the Italian island of Pantelleria, according to TAP.

Tunisia, located in the central Mediterranean, is one of the main points of access to the Europe through irregular channels.

The number of attempts of illegal immigration from the Tunisian coasts toward Italy has been increasing despite the strict measures by the Tunisian authorities to combat the problem.