A boat carrying at least 700 migrants has been seized off the eastern coast of Libya, the country’s coast guard announced.
The coast guard reported that the ship was stopped on Friday near the Mediterranean town of Moura, 90 kilometers west of the eastern city of Benghazi.
The statement said that the migrants come from different countries and that those who entered Libya illegally will be handed over to their countries of origin.
The Coast Guard has posted photos on Facebook showing a boat full of migrants, most of whom are young.
It was one of the largest intercepts of migrants who have headed for Europe in recent months fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa.
In recent years, Libya has become a dominant transit point for migrants who want to reach Europe.