Navy forces succeeded in preventing 440 individuals from illegally immigrating this week, Armed Forces spokesperson Ahmed Samir said on Wednesday. The two groups were composed of two different nationalities, including Egyptians, and were found near the Mediterranean coast. The first group included 198 people, and the second included 242 people. Thousands of illegal immigrants cross the Mediterranean Sea every year, and Egypt has become a popular destination to begin the journey. Hundreds of Egyptian nationals have been repatriated from Italy with the help of the Egyptian Foreign Ministry.

Source: Daily News Egypt September 15, 2016 14:03 UTC