Thirteen “Harraga” (Illegal Migrants) Intercepted By Coast Guards Off Annaba’s Coast

An official of the Information and Communication Unit of the civil protection department in Annaba province (far-eastern Algeria) confirmed that his services intervened at dawn on Tuesday to intercept 13 “harraga” or illegal migrants, which the Coast Guard elements had stopped only hours after they had set off from the shore of Ouedi Bocrat in Seraidi as they had crossed more than 7 miles at sea on their way to the Italian island of Sardinia.

The ages of the arrested Harraga varied between 21 to 35 years, five of them hailed from Annaba itself, four others from the capital Algiers and the rest from the provinces of Setif, Jijel, Mila and Ain Temouchent.

The same source indicated that they had left Chetaibi beach on a makeshift boat on Monday night, trying to escape from the Coast Guards’ observation screens,   but they were eventually ringed off by the latter and summoned to stop the boat and surrender in outer sea. 

Immediately after being rounded up and transferred to the military barracks on the ground, they were presented to the Civil Protection local Unit’s Doctor to ensure their health safety. 

Later on, the necessary legal procedures were brought to their attention by the Attorney General at Annaba’s Court on Tuesday morning and the defendants were immediately summoned to stand before the judicial authorities who imposed on each of them a fine estimated at 20 thousand dinars.

In a related context, the Italian Coast Guards for their part commandeered on Tuesday morning a small boat with nine “harraga” or illegal migrants on board coming from Annaba province who had managed to safely reach the Italian island of Sardinia after a 12-hour long sea crossing. 

The latter set off from Annaba’s Chetaibi beach on board a makeshift boat with a 40 horsepower engine and stored with water and foodstuffs.