125 illegal immigrants caught at Salloum border

CAIRO - 16 July 2017: Border forces foiled on Sunday an illegal immigration attempt of 125 people, who were crossing the Egyptian border to leave to Libya.

The defendants included people from around ten Egyptian governorates, along with 25 Sudanese, three Ethiopians, and nine Eritreans. They were caught attempting to get into Libya through desert routes near the southern city of Salloum.

Guards have stopped the immigrants for criminal and political examination and to present for prosecution.

Border between Libya and Egypt has witnessed several illegal immigration attempts, despite that there is a number of agreements that were previously signed between both countries to ensure the safety and security, however, flow of illegal immigrants continues.

Egyptian Parliament has approved in October illegal-immigration and smuggling law including tough penalties on whoever assists and facilitates the process of illegal immigration. The law was drafted by the cabinet in 2015, and was sent in June 2016 to parliament for discussion.

The Parliament efforts to approve the law came following the boat that capsized off the coast of Rashid in Beheira governorate while heading to Europe, killing dozens of people.