Egyptians use fishing boats to make the dangerous trip to Italy (Photo: AP)
Italian authorities ordered Tuesday the deportation of 28 Egyptians who had attempted to enter the Mediterranean country illegally.
The deportees reportedly traveled to Italy on a fishing boat that sailed from Egypt’s coastal city of Alexandria last week.
Al-Ahram Arabic news website quoted an anonymous source at Cairo airport who confirmed the deportees' arrival in Egypt by way of private jet from Catania.
The source added that each deportee paid LE45,000 to members of a "gang" who promised to help them enter Italy.
Italy is the top destination for illegal migration by Egyptians to Europe.
Hundreds of Egyptians, in search of better work opportunities, have been caught in similar attempts to migrate to Italy over the past few years. Hundreds more have died in boat accidents.
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