Tunisian National Guard forces have arrested over 5,000 irregular African migrants and smugglers in recent operations, according to official sources.
The arrests were made as part of a crackdown on illegal immigration and smuggling activities in the country.
The National Guard also seized hundreds of unlicensed hunting rifles and ammunition during the operations. The arrests come as Tunisia is also ramping up efforts to combat terrorism.
A Tunisian court has begun the trial of suspects in the assassination of lawyer and leftist activist Chokri Belaid, which took place 11 years ago. The case is seen as a test for Tunisia’s post-revolution democracy.
President Kais Saied has pledged to bring to justice those responsible for the assassination of Belaid and other high-profile figures.
In addition to the crackdown on illegal immigration and terrorism, Tunisian security forces have also been conducting operations to combat drug trafficking and smuggling.
In the past week, they have seized millions of dinars worth of smuggled goods and arrested hundreds of suspects. The Tunisian government has said that it is committed to ensuring the security of the country and its citizens.
