Italian navy vessels on Thursday
were transporting nearly 1,500 immigrants rescued in various
operations and now en route for the ports of Vibo Valentia in
Calabria and Augusta in Sicily, with arrival expected Thursday
evening.
The Italian navy vessel Dattilo is transporting 835
immigrants to the port of Vibo Valentia, where the local prefect
has already conducted an operational briefing for health
professionals, law enforcement, and volunteers who will be on
hand to assist at the landing.
In Sicily, authorities at the port of Augusta are expecting
the vessel Chimera to dock in early evening with 579 immigrants
rescued from two different boats.
In Siracusa, meanwhile, law enforcement has identified
three suspected human traffickers from Egypt who were allegedly
at the helm of a motorboat carrying 335 migrants that was
intercepted 138 miles from the port of Augusta on Wednesday.
Those migrants were brought to the port of Augusta on
Wednesday by the Bahamian vehicle-carrying ship Hermes Leader,
accompanied by two Coast Guard vessels.
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