CAIRO, Sep 6 (Aswat Masriya) – Egypt’s national security committee passed a draft law imposing up to 5-year imprisonment and a fine for human trafficking, said the minister of transitional justice on Sunday.

The fine is set to be between EGP 50,000 (around $6,388) and EGP 200,000 ( $25,550), Minister Ibrahim al-Henedi told state news agency MENA.

The draft law is due to be referred to the state committee tasked with carrying out legislative reform, ahead of its ratification by the cabinet, the minister said.

The anti-illegal immigration law deals with illegal immigrants as “victims”, Henedi said.

The draft stipulates a penalty of up to life in prison if the human trafficking process is organized by a group known for implementing a “terrorist target” or if a migrant dies.

The bill deals with illegal immigration as a “disturbing phenomenon” and aims to fill the legislative gap to comply with Egypt’s international obligations, Henedi said. 

The Egyptian navy has prevented the illegal immigration by sea of 228 people from "different nationalities" on Sunday, the military spokesman said. 

The passengers were due to start their journey off the coast of Alexandria in Egypt's north on three fishing boats but were stopped by the navy, spokesman Mohamed Samir said in a statement.