Tripoli, Mar 16 (IANS): The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that more than 400 illegal immigrants were sent back to Libya after being taken by the country's coast guards over the past 24 hours.

"This morning, 105 migrants were returned to Libya by the coast guard," Xinhua news agency quoted the IOM as saying in a tweet.

"Over the past 24 hours, five boats carrying 406 people fleeing violence and dire conditions have been taken back to Libya. Most of them ended up in detention, where there are serious concerns over their safety," IOM said.

On Saturday, the IOM reiterated that migrants rescued or intercepted at sea should not be returned to Libya due to poor security conditions.

Libya has become a preferred point of departure for thousands of illegal immigrants, mostly Africans, wanting to cross the Mediterranean Sea to reach European shores.

According to the IOM, more than 110,000 illegal immigrants made their way to Europe through the Mediterranean in 2019, while 1,283 died on the way.

Immigrant shelters in Libya are crowded with thousands of immigrants either rescued from the sea or arrested by the Libyan security forces, despite international calls for closing those centres.