Coast Guard stops ship of Tunisian migrants headed to Italy

A member of the Tunisian Coast Guard observes a fishing boat. (AFP/File)

The coast guard units stemming from the Monastir Maritime Auxiliary (Centralwest) managed, in co-ordination with the Sousse coast guard (east), to thwart an illegal immigration attempt from Teboulba coast (South of Monastir) towards Italy.

A group of 35 individuals, aged between 26 and 31 years, native of several governorates of the country, were aboard the ship.

Among them, some are wanted by justive and one of them is subject of 11 search warrants, Amer Gharbi Head of Monastir coast guard told TAP.

The same source specified that this operation helped arrest the members of the group and seize the ship in addition to foreign currency. The captain of the ship was also arrested, Gharbi underlined.

Research is underway to arrest all members of the network who participated in the operation.