The Tunisian authorities announced the rescue of 652 individuals by the Coast Guard in the central region following hearing distress calls after their boat capsized during an attempt at illegal migration.
Tunisian National Guard’s General Directorate reported that as part of efforts to combat illegal migration, units of the Coast Guard in Sfax within the central maritime region successfully thwarted 23 attempts of illegal border crossings and rescued 652 individuals during the past night.
Among those rescued were 410 individuals from Sub-Saharan African countries and 242 Tunisians. This rescue operation followed the sinking of their boats at sea.
The directorate stated that it is working to combat maritime crimes, protect human lives, and counter criminal networks involved in organizing illegal migration operations. They also called on citizens to report human trafficking operations and support the state’s efforts in combating those involved in these deadly boat journeys.