Far-right interior minister and deputy premier Matteo Salvini on Thursday welcomed data from the European Union border and coastguard agency Frontex showing a 95% drop in migrant crossings to Italy from North Africa in the first two month of the year.
"The migrant landings have been stopped. Now we will show our utmost commitment to deporting illegal immigrants from Italy," Salvini tweeted.
"New expulsion centres and accords with migrants' countries of origin," the tweet added.
A total 260 migrants were detected on the Central Mediterranean route from North Africa to Italy in January and February: 95% fewer in the same period of last year, according to Frontex figures issued on Thursday.
The number of migrants detected on the Central Mediterranean route in February was 60 - the lowest monthly figure in nine years, Frontex said.
Most of the migrants reaching Italy were Bangladeshis and Tunisians, according to Frontex.
