The end of year 2014 coincides with the end of the operations carried out by the Italian Maritime Security and Surveillance Naval Fleet (Dispositivo Navale di Sorveglianza e Sicurezza Marittima – DNSSM) activated to perform Operation Mare Nostrum.
The DNSSM operated to protect human lives at sea, tackle illegal trafficking, seize smugglers and motherships, carry out health prevention by means of screening and retaining would-be migrants before reaching the Italian coasts.
To achieve these results, the Italian Navy deployed an average 500 troops engaged 24/7.
In two months, the troops saved 4,608 lives, of the 13,668 people actually rescued by the Italian Navy, the Coast Guard, the Customs Service as well as cargo ships. They also conducted 6 health emergencies and s eized one mothership. These operations resulted in b ringing 19 alleged smugglers to Italian justice.
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Press release, Image: Italian Navy