Illegal immigrants apprehended in Xylotymbou

TWO ILLEGAL immigrants from Iran were arrested in Xylotymbou at around 1.30am yesterday while they were on the Dekeleia-Achna-Famagusta motorway.

The Iranians were taken to Xylotymbou police station, where they were detained. The investigation carried out by the Migration Office found that one of the Iranians, a 33-year-old had previously been deported from Cyprus. He will be taken to Famagusta District Court in Paralimni today on charges of illegal entry. The second man, 21, will be deported as soon as the relevant procedures are completed.

Following questioning, the men revealed they had paid $2,500 each to travel by air from Tehran to Istanbul, from where they were brought to the occupied airport of Tymvos, after which they travelled by car to the area to the Pergamos – Xylotymbou to enter the Dhekeleia Base, where they were arrested by a Xylotymbou police patrol car.

It is believed that they belong to a larger group of Iranian illegal immigrants and investigations continued throughout the day.