“Some young people are being incited by unknown parties who are using social networks to mobilize them” to immigrate illegally, Baitas stressed during a press briefing at the end of the weekly Government Council meeting.

The number of people who have attempted to immigrate illegally from the town of Fnideq is close to 3,000, he added, noting that all the attempts have been foiled.

After expressing the government's regret at the incidents in Fnideq, Baitas pointed out that illegal immigration is a problem “present and recurring in a large number of countries”.

The government official also praised the professionalism and wisdom shown by the forces of law and order, in full compliance with the legal rules in force, insofar as they “ensured, first and foremost, to guarantee the safety of those who attempted to immigrate illegally”, given the fact that no deaths were recorded among them.