Two individuals detained for living illegally in north Cyprus: One of them for 16 years

Turkish Cypriot police in Lefkoşa have detained two individuals found to be living illegally in the country, following routine inspections conducted earlier this week.

The individuals, SÖ, a Turkish national and ARA, a Nigerian were brought before a court on Sunday July 27 after it was determined that they had been residing in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) without valid permits.

According to testimony presented in court by police, SÖ has been living in the TRNC without a valid residence permit since June 12, 2009 — a total of 5,888 days (16 years).

The second suspect ARA was found to have overstayed her legal stay by 240 days, dating back to November 29, 2024.

The police noted that the investigation into the pair is still in its early stages.

Authorities are currently working to determine what activities the individuals were involved in and whether they were engaged in unauthorized employment during their time in the country. The police also stated that preparations for their deportation are underway.

To allow time for further investigation and to process deportation procedures, police requested that both individuals remain in custody for an initial period of three days.

After reviewing the evidence, the judge approved the request, ordering their continued detention for 72 hours for investigative purposes.