On Tuesday, the Tunisian National Guard announced that it had arrested 16 organisers of several migrant smuggling networks over the past 48 hours.
According to a statement on the Tunisian National Guard’s Facebook page, the arrests were carried out in the south-eastern province of Sfax and central Tunisia in a bid to combat illegal immigration.
Officials also said that 90 other wanted people, 19 boats and a “significant” amount of money in various currencies were seized during the operations.
Situated in the central Mediterranean, Tunisia is one of the most popular transit points for illegal immigration to Europe.
Although the Tunisian authorities have taken rigorous measures to tackle the problem, the number of illegal immigrants heading for Italy has been on the rise.
Last Wednesday, twenty-three migrants were arrested for illegal residence in the country, according to official data.
According to official reports, North African countries such as Tunisia, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania and Morocco have for many years witnessed attempts by migrants, mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, to reach Europe in the hope of a better life.
According to the Tunisian authorities, more than 37,000 irregular migrants were apprehended in 2022.
