Police hunt dozens of illegal immigrants smuggled from the north

THREE illegal immigrants were arrested by police in the early hours of Sunday on 28th October Street, along Limassol’s seafront road, police said.

The three men were part of a group of 45 Syrian, Palestinian and Iraqi illegal immigrants, including women and children. On Saturday, the group had boarded a ship at Adana in Turkey, which transferred them to the occupied north. From there, they were put on two trucks and transferred to a site near Avlona village. A Turkish man then escorted the group, who crossed to the south on foot, where a Greek Cypriot man was waiting for them. A second Greek Cypriot then transferred 30 of the immigrants to an unknown location and came back to collect the rest of the 15 people, who were taken to Limassol.

Once they reached Limassol, 14 of the illegal immigrants boarded three saloon-type cars, heading to Paphos, police confirmed. One man stayed in Limassol, reportedly to look for accommodation. Two men, who were expecting the group to take them to Paphos, met with the illegal immigrant, who informed them that the group was already on its way there. Following a tip from an undisclosed source, the three men were then arrested by police at the seaside road.

The case appeared before Limassol District Court on Sunday, which ordered that the three men be remanded in custody for six days. The rest of the group is wanted by police.