Egyptian authorities have thwarted attempts at irregular migration from Egypt's borders by some 3,000 people of diffrent nationalities in the first half of 2017, a statement by the Armed Forces said on Wednesday.

Over the past few years, thousands of migrants have attempted to cross the Mediterranean for Europe through Egypt’s northern coast, with thousands detained by Egyptian authorities while attempting the journey.

In late 2016, Cairo introduced a law stiffening penalties against human traffickers.

The move came after a migrant boat sank in September 2016 off the Mediterranean coast, killing hundreds.

Egypt's President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has spoken on multiple occasions about Egypt's ongoing efforts to curb irregular migration from its shores to Europe – a key concern for European countries facing a growing migrant crisis.

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