Two persons handcuffed for the arrival of 458 illegal immigrants

Two persons, 33 years old from Palestine and 27 years old from Syria, were arrested to facilitate the Police inquiries regarding the investigation of a case of helping a total of 458 irregular migrants, who were in six boats and were spotted off Cape Greco on Monday 11 March, to enter illegally on the territory of the Republic of Cyprus.

Information from the KYPE states that the two are facing offenses involving, among other things, entering the territory of the Republic, assisting the illegal entry of persons from a third country into the Republic, assisting persons from a third country with intent and with the aim of obtaining profit, transporting a person by waterway with an unsafe and overloaded vessel and conspiracy to commit a felony.

The 33-year-old from Palestine was in the 4th boat and the 27-year-old from Syria in the 5th boat, while their arrest was successful after the testimonies of their fellow passengers who identified them to the Police as the navigators of the two boats.

It is recalled that the six boats detected by the radars of the Port and Maritime Police were taken to the Ayia Napa marina and after the details of the migrants on board were recorded, they were transferred to the Pournara Hospitality Center.

According to the information of the KYPE, the immigrants reported to the Police that the six boats started from Lebanon, after paying three thousand dollars each, to an unknown person.

The two arrested are expected to be brought before the District Court of Famagusta today for the issuance of their detention orders. The case is being investigated by the TAE of Famagusta.