Tunisia: Nine clandestine migration attempts foiled, 306 individuals arrested

Tunisian coastguards have foiled 9 clandestine migration attempts involving 306 people, in several regions of the country.

Colonel Houssem Eddine Jebabli, spokesman for the Direction General of National Guard in three different statements indicated that units of the National Guard in the regions of the center and Sahel (east coast) have foiled, in the nights of Sunday to Monday, then Monday to Tuesday, 7 illegal attempts to cross the sea borders and rescued 269 people of sub-Saharan nationalities after the sinking of their boats, Anadolu news agency reports.

Other units in the cities of Beni Khiar (governorate of Nabeul, northeast) and Ksibet El Médiouni (governorate of Monastir, east) have arrested 13 people, 3 of whom are of sub-Saharan nationality and the others Tunisians, who were preparing to cross the maritime borders illegally, Jebabli added.

Forces, according to the security official, also foiled in Bizerte governorate (North) another attempt and seized two cars and saved 24 Tunisians.

The North African country has been struggling with illegal migration via the Mediterranean to European coasts. Thousands of Tunisians and foreigners arrived in Italy this year from Tunisian coast and 544 have reportedly died this year in an attempt to reach Italian sea shores.