"Migrant trafficking, one of the most lucrative criminal activities in the world [is] an intolerable modern form of slavery [that] caused the death of over 9,000 people on the migration routes in 2024 [and] this government intends to fight it in all possible ways," stated Italy's Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on September 11.

The Italian Premier was speaking at the Italian Coast Guard's Global Summit, to celebrate the 160th anniversary of the foundation of the Naval Port Authorities in Italy.

'Steep decrease in the number of migrant arrivals and deaths'

"Before this data we have only one choice: we can either resign or we can act. And if we want to act, which is what we choose to do, what we must do is to place even more determination and commitment in what we do, including being brave and imagining new solutions together," continued Meloni.

The Premier also underscored that "the encouraging data that we are registering in Italy and Europe with the dramatic decrease of the number of migrant arrivals and the significant reduction of the number of deaths and missing at sea, are the proof that this phenomenon can be managed."

"It is also proof that it is possible to build a new way that is against any unreasonable, self-serving and ideologically-driven approach to this subject," she added.

'The Coast Guard is key in fighting migrant trafficking'

According to the Italian Premier "there is a concrete and possible alternative, which places legality first, fights the mafia at sea, and builds a cooperation model of development which can tackle the deep causes linked to migration."

Once again Meloni said she believes that contrasting migrant smuggling "is a systemic action that would be impossible to achieve without the competencies of our Coast Guards, who know how to distinguish themselves in the activities of search and rescue at sea, as well as in the preventive actions they take."