A boat carrying 297 immigrants, 51 of them children, landed on the southern Italian coast today, according to police.
The immigrants appeared to be mainly Kurds from Turkey and Iraq, but their port of departure had not been identified. The immigrants are now in reception centres on the mainland and five people, thought to be crew members, are being questioned by police.
The boat was first sighted in the early hours of the morning off the port of Crotone.
Thousands of illegal immigrants arrive on Italy's shores every month, mostly from Eastern Europe, North Africa and Asia, paying anywhere from 2,500 to 10,000 USD for their passage in the hope of seeking a better life in Europe.
Most do not stay in Italy, preferring to make their way to Britain, France or Germany to find work.
Many have died trying to reach Italy in the past few years, as the smugglers charging them for a passage sometimes throw them overboard before the boat reaches the coast so that the smugglers can avoid capture by the Italian police.
Italy has tightened its laws against illegal immigration since the inflow began a few years ago, and the issue has often been used in election campaigning by politicians.
Those detained by Italy's coastguard are taken to so-called welcome centres where their status is decided on a case-by-case basis.
People with legitimate claims are permitted to apply for political asylum while most are expelled.