BEIRUT, Sept. 9 (Xinhua) -- Lebanon thwarted on Thursday the smuggling of 28 illegal immigrants off the coast of Tripoli, the largest city in northern Lebanon.
The illegal immigrants were on board of a boat on their way to Cyprus, a security source told Xinhua.
"A fishing boat carrying five Lebanese and 23 displaced Syrians, including women and children, was stopped 11 miles off the coast of Tripoli," the source said.
The migrants onboard were wearing life jackets and had quantities of food, water and baby milk, the source said.
The arrested people were referred to competent authorities for investigations and other legal procedures.
Networks of human trafficking by sea have been active in northern Lebanon, as the smugglers can earn huge sums of money ranging between 2,000 and 3,000 U.S. dollars per person. Enditem
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