Police arrested two persons around midnight suspected of trafficking irregular migrants from Syria to Cyprus.
According to police, a boat brought a group of 13 to shore at Limnitis in north Cyprus late on Tuesday from where they crossed to Kato Pyrgos on foot. The group, six men, three women, three children and one infant, will be taken to a reception centre.
After they disembarked the traffickers tried to return to Turkey in the boat but were intercepted by the coastguard.
Community leader of Kato Pyrgos Nicos Kleanthous expressed his concern about the continuing influx of migrants in the area. He reiterated the request of the community for the establishment of a coastguard unit in the area, with a larger boat and more staff.
“Our concern is intensified due to the pandemic of Covid- 19,” Kleanthous said. “Of the 18 illegal immigrants who previously arrived in Kato Pyrgos Tillyria, eight were carriers of the virus.”