In a dedicated move against illegal immigration, the Tunisian National Guard has successfully intercepted 426 illicit border-crossing attempts within the span of two weeks from September 15 to 28.
According to a statement from the General Directorate of the National Guard, a total of 7756 individuals were apprehended in their endeavors to traverse the border unlawfully. Among them, 4172 were attempting terrestrial passage, while the rest were intercepted at sea.
The actions of the National Guard included the destruction of 95 iron vessels, the seizure of 68 boats, 27 inflatable rafts, and 115 marine engines. Furthermore, vehicles used in the illicit transfer of individuals, including 42 cars, 12 trucks, and 27 motorcycles, were confiscated. Monetary seizures included close to 200,000 Tunisian Dinars and 6,000 Euros.
During the same period, the National Guard prevented 5596 foreigners from illicitly entering Tunisian territory, underscoring the critical role it plays in securing the country’s borders against unauthorized incursions.
In a related incident, a proactive operation was executed, in which the National Guard disrupted a trafficking attempt of five Sub-Saharan Africans in a light truck, driven by a Tunisian individual toward the city of Sfax, aimed at facilitating their clandestine sea crossing. Following consultation with the Public Prosecutor’s Office, all involved parties were apprehended.
Moreover, land and sea units in Sfax, along with the Directorate of Inquiries and Research, successfully dismantled 14 clandestine maritime crossing organizations, preventing 5 covert sea-border crossing attempts, and seized foreign currency amounts and approximately 11,000 Tunisian Dinars.
