The 473 people found trying to cross the Mediterranean on inflatables in different operations since Saturday included some who were picked up by a cargo ship, coastguard spokesman Ayoub Qassem said.
The migrants were from different sub-Saharan and Arab countries and included 25 women. Libya’s western shores are the main departure point for thousands of migrants mainly from sub-Saharan countries trying to reach Europe.
But since July 2017, smuggling networks inside Libya have been disrupted under an Italy-backed deal with local authorities in a former smuggling hub of Sabratha town in western Libya.
The coast guard has stepped up patrols after receiving new boats from Italy as part of efforts by the right-wing government there to stop migrants reaching Italian shores from Africa.
