Fifty-seven migrants, including 13 minors and 15 women, mostly Afghan citizens, who were traveling on a “suspicious sailboat” off Crotone, southern Italy, were rescued by the GNR, Captain Ricardo Bártolo said.
In statements to the Lusa news agency, the GNR captain explained that the search and rescue operation was carried out with the coastal patrol boat (LPC) Bojador, within the framework of the joint operation “Themis 2023”, and that the migrants were rescued. of a “suspicious sailboat” at 06:30, in Crotone, Calabria region (Italy).
“Among the group there were 13 minors and 15 women,” the captain said, adding that most of the rescued migrants are from Afghanistan.
Still according to Ricardo Bártolo, during a patrol action, carried out after an alert from the Italian authorities by a “sailboat suspected of carrying migrants on board”, the Bojador speedboat was activated at 00:30 hours.
“The detection of the vessel occurred at 5:30 a.m. using the existing surveillance systems at LPC Boujador and, with the presence of a Coast Guard vessel at the location, the operation to transfer migrants to board began. the Italian vessel, thus ending at 06:30,” read a GNR statement.
The GNR, through the Border and Coastal Control Unit (UCCF), is part of the operation “Themis 2023” from March 22 to July 12, with LPC Boujdour, under the auspices of the European Guard Agency of Borders and Coasts (FRONTEX), within the framework of operational coordination at the external borders of the European Union, to control migratory flows and prevent cross-border crime.
The main objective of the mission is to act in the field of border surveillance, control irregular immigration flows, fight cross-border crime and strengthen European cooperation at the level of the Coast Guard and law enforcement.
The crew of the Boujador is made up of 20 GNR soldiers.
Source: TSF
