Italian naval vessels will patrol off the Libyan coast with Libyan sailors aboard to combat illegal immigration under an agreement signed by the two countries Saturday, Italy’s interior ministry said.

Under the deal, Italy will supply six police patrol boats to help officials from both countries watch the ports and beaches that serve as departure points.

Interior Minister Giuiliano Amato and Libya’s Foreign Minister Abdelrahman Mohammed Shalgam signed the agreement in Tripoli to "intensify cooperation in the fight against criminal organisations which traffic in human beings and reap profits from illegal immigration," a statement said.

Six Italian naval ships would patrol off the Libyan coast with joint crews on missions of "control, search and rescue in areas of departure and transit" of boats carrying immigrants "in both Libyan and international waters."

"It will thus be possible to fight more effectively against this traffic, both saving a great number of lives and getting rid of the criminal gangs" responsible," the ministry quoted Amato as saying.

Italian shores, especially the small island of Lampedusa, south of Sicily, are a favourite destination for immigrants making the perilous crossing from Libya and other parts of North Africa in the hope of a new life in Europe.

Italian Interior Minister Giuliano Amato said the deal would save lives and dismantle criminal gangs.

The deal between Italy and Libya did not state when the joint patrols would begin.

Source

Essentially, Italia will provide the vessels to help import the illegal alien Libyan criminals into Italia because…these criminals may otherwise drown trying to illegally enter Italia.