TRIPOLI, May 10 (Xinhua) -- The Libya interior ministry on Wednesday revealed a plan to restrain illegal immigration.
"The Ministry is implementing an integrated plan involving all security services to confront illegal migration through sea and land, in order to reduce the immigrants flows," Mohamed Al-Marhani, illegal immigration's under secretary of interior ministry told Xinhua.
The announcement was made during a football event between local football veterans and a group of immigrants from different African nationalities, which was organized by the Libyan anti-illegal immigration department in the capital Tripoli.
"Our plan is based primarily on activating desert patrols, especially in the south and south-west of the country, from which most immigrants infiltrated illegally through borders with neighboring countries," he said.
"The plan also activates passport investigations," which to play a considerable role in checking the official documents of migrants, Al-Marhani added.
Al-Marhani said that there is also a plan for the coast guard to carry out rescue operations in the Mediterranean.
"We call on all neighboring countries, from which large numbers of immigrants come or cross through, to firmly stand with Libya on the security level to stop the flows of immigrants," the under secretary said. "Libya pays a high price as a result of the terrifying numbers of immigrants that enter the country on a daily basis."
Illegal immigration flows from Libya towards European shores increase "particularly in the summer" due to the improved weather conditions, said Al-Marhani.
Thousands of illegal migrants choose to cross the Mediterranean towards European shores from Libya due to the state of chaos in the country following the 2011 uprising.
According to official figures from the Libyan anti-illegal immigration department, more than 4,000 migrants were rescued off the Libyan coast during the first quarter of the year.
