Illegal immigration towards Italy: 36 Algerian youngsters arrested by Tunisian authorities: High waves foiled their adventure

At least 36 Algerian youngsters arrested by the Tunisian security services, aged between 17 and 36, handed over Monday noon to the Algerian security services in Soukahras, east of Algeria.

 The 36 illegal immigrants sailed last week from Annaba in eastern Algeria towards Sardinia trying illegal immigration; however they failed due to the huge waves which threw them towards the Tunisian shore of Tabarka and Bizert.

The Tunisian security services alerted their Algerian counterpart, which immediately managed to receive them in the eastern borders, accompanied by civil and military services. Their families also came to the borders to check on their children and relatives after having lived a week of nightmares because they went missing in the Mediterranean amid bad weather conditions.

According to Echorouk sources, the illegal immigrants were transferred to the capital Tunis on board of a bus belonging to the Department of Border Guards. When they reached the Algerian soil, they were subjected to physical and psychological tests before investigations.

The Algerian security services brought them to the judicial authorities on charges of trying to get out of the national territory without a license.

Previously, Algerian Coast Guards in Annaba, east of Algeria, contacted their Italian counterparts in Sardinia and Cecily Islands in order to report on the loss of 47 Algerian illegal immigrants, who sailed from Annaba and Taref coasts, east of Algeria, Friday night on board of two wooden-made traditional boats.

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The first boat carried 25 youngsters and the second 17, aged between 16 and 39 years, from various eastern localities.

Sources which reported the news told Echorouk that some of their relatives called the units of coast guards of Annaba, east of Algeria, on Sunday in order to inform security services that they lost contact with those youngsters who sailed on Friday towards Sardinia.

Coast guards services mobilized the majority of their units to search for those youngsters in coordination with the units of Italian coast guards.

Same sources said that the illegal immigrants sailed under difficult conditions because of the winter weather, as the sea waters reach -5°.

Echorouk sources added that the Algerian Coast Guards sought the help of a plane belonging to the Air Force which took off yesterday morning from Boufarik airport, Blida, west of Algiers.