A 17-Year-Old Boat Captain with Illegal Migrants Arrested in Cyprus

Two more boats with illegal migrants have arrived off the shores of Cyprus. Police have arrested the captain of one of the vessels, who turned out to be a 17-year-old teenager.

According to the police press service, on Thursday afternoon, the radar of the port and maritime police detected two boats heading 12 nautical miles southeast of Cape Greco.

The first vessel, carrying 23 illegal individuals - 19 men, two women with a child, and an unaccompanied minor - was spotted shortly after 4:00 PM and intercepted by the coast guard vessel.

The illegal immigrants were taken to the Ayia Napa port and after registration transferred to the Pournara Temporary Accommodation Center in Kokkinotrimithia.

The second boat was found shortly after 6:00 PM, 12 nautical miles southeast of Cape Greco. There were 18 illegal migrants on board - 15 men and three unaccompanied minors.

The illegal immigrants were also taken to the Ayia Napa port. After registration, they were also transferred to the Pournara Temporary Accommodation Center in Kokkinotrimithia.

In total, there were 41 illegal immigrants on the two boats. It is known that they all departed from Tripoli, Lebanon.

During the police investigation, it was revealed that the first boat was operated by a 17-year-old young man. The teenager was arrested and will be brought to the Famagusta District Court tomorrow for a detention hearing.