Tunisian Maritime Guard on Sunday night arrested 13 people who tried to cross the Mediterranean illegally towards the Italian coast, Tunisian Interior Ministry said on Monday.
The group of illegal migrants was arrested off El Haouaria in the northeastern province of Nabeul.
“These migrants, aged between 19 and 41 years old, were rescued while their boat was sinking,” the ministry added.
These individuals are from three different Tunisian provinces. “They confessed that they have planned to cross illegally to Italy from the El Haouaria coast,” it said.
After consulting with the public prosecutor’s office, the relevant authorities will take necessary measures against these illegal migrants.
Attempts of illegal migration from the Tunisian coasts towards Italy usually multiply during the summer season due to favorable weather conditions.
