Fifty-seven Egyptians returned to Cairo Wednesday after being deported by Italian authorities for attempting to immigrate to Italy illegally.
Italian authorities had saved the migrants from a sinking fishing boat, according to the state-run news agency MENA.
MENA quoted Cairo International Airport security sources as saying that during questioning, the deportees said they sailed from the coast of Port Said on 31 December in a group of 80 young men.
Their boat began to sink in a storm as they approached the Italian coast Sunday. They sent a distress signal via satellite that was picked up by a Chinese cargo ship.
Italian authorities rescued them and transferred them to a camp. They deported 57 of the passengers, and transferred the others to a school for juveniles because they were under 18.
The sources said a security team questioned the deportees when they returned home to learn more about the circumstances of their attempt to immigrate, as well as details about the immigration ring they were dealing with.
Egypt will charge the deportees attempted illegal immigration. Investigators are conducting background checks to see if any of the deportees have had court rulings against them.
Translated from Al-Masry Al-Youm
