The bodies were found near the port cities of Mahdia and Sfax, the second largest city of the country where there have been clashes between migrants and law enforcement in recent times.

Migrants persist in embarking on the perilous journey from North Africa to Europe, despite the dangers involved, crossing the Mediterranean Sea in boats originating from Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya, destined for Italy, Greece, Malta, and Spain’s Canary Islands.

This year alone, over 49,000 people have reached Europe by sea, with more than 7,000 of them coming from Tunisia to Italy. Many others have undertaken the voyage, with thousands intercepted by North African authorities and an estimated 473 presumed dead or missing, as reported by the United Nations’ International Organization for Migration.

Migration policies on both sides of the Mediterranean have primarily centred on combating human trafficking and dismantling smuggling networks, with Tunisian authorities announcing the arrest of five smugglers on Tuesday, highlighting their ongoing efforts against such criminal activities.

Human trafficking charges typically carry severe penalties, with sentences of up to 20 years in some cases.