Police in Palermo have shut down in recent days over 1,000 social media profiles and pages they said organized illegal migrant journeys from North Africa's coasts to Italy, even offering in some cases discounted prices for women and children and family packages.

Overall, 728 sites and profiles were shut down and others are being closed, investigative sources said on Sunday, September 15.

Also read: 9 Chinese nationals arrested for smuggling migrants into Italy using luxury cars

Accounts mainly used by smugglers in Libya and Egypt

The social media accounts were used by suspected smugglers active in Libya as well as in Egypt, a country from which no departures of migrant ships are being registered but where organizers are managing migrant journeys, the sources said.

The operation to shut down the pages was organized in cooperation with social media giant Meta.

In particular, police in Palermo, in cooperation with the local investigative section of the central command SCO started monitoring the social pages and profiles used by human smugglers to promote the illegal journeys from the coasts of Africa to Italy.

Palermo flying squad took part in the prove, starting with the operational model used by criminal associations active in migrant trafficking that utilize social networks to publicize their illegal activities and sponsor illegal transport services for migrants.

Also read: UK: Police arrest Egyptian smuggling suspect, linked to fatal Channel crossing

'Journey cost 4,600 euros per person'

The investigative activity, which kicked off in November last year, allowed to open the probe and acquire information on the locations of departure and transit of migrants as well as transportation details that were also useful to monitor the phenomenon and exchange information with Libyan and Tunisian police, investigative sources explained.

The pages publicized trips that cost about 4,600 euros per person which could be paid via money transfer circuits. Prices varied according to the package chosen, including VIP journeys, the sources added.

Also read: Rapid and expensive dinghies for Mediterranean crossings, three arrests in Italy