Seventeen would be illegal immigrants were intercepted early Friday morning at 10 miles off Ras El Hamra (Annaba, 600-km east of Algiers) while they were trying to cross the Mediterranean sea, said the territorial coastguards.
The would-be illegal immigrants, aged between 18 and 33 are all from the province of Annaba. They were arrested by a unit of the coastguards at 2 a.m. and brought to the headquarters at Annaba port, where they underwent medical examination, said the source.
They will be brought before the public prosecutor of Annaba court early next week.
A total of 61 would-be illegal immigrants have been intercepted off Annaba since the beginning of August.