The Libyan Coast Guards on Monday reportedly blocked 324 migrants, mostly Nigerians who were trying to reach Europe using the Mediterranean Sea.

Despite accusations of slavery in Libya, the migrants who are still flocking to the North African country were picked up while trying to leave on board two rubber boats.

According to a statement released by Ayoub Qassem, the spokesperson for the Libyan Coast Guards, the migrants comprising people from Nigeria, Chad, Mali and Ivory Coast were intercepted about seven miles off the western town of Zuwara.

Qassem said the migrants included 35 women and 16 children, adding: “There are some others from Tunisia, Pakistan and Morocco. There are also 32 persons including eight women and six children from Libya, and three families among them.”

The number of migrants crossing from Libya had dropped since July last year as Libyan authorities, under pressure from Italy and the European Union began to block departure routes especially from the smuggling hub of Sabratha.

According to the statistics from Italian Interior Ministry, over 3,500 migrants mostly from Eritrea, Tunisia, Pakistan, Nigeria and Libya in that order, have arrived Italy from Libya, 62 percent fewer than that during the same period last year.