Nine arrested in south Cyprus for helping migrants cross into the country illegally through the Green Line

Nine people were arrested in south Cyprus after they helped 16 irregular migrants into the country in the Peristerona area of Nicosia, police said on Friday.  

At around 9.30pm on Thursday, members of the buffer zone surveillance unit located the 16 irregular migrants on the main road of Peristerona, eight of whom were minors.

In addition to that, three vehicles were seen moving suspiciously in the area, in which a total of nine people were travelling.

They were arrested for the evident offences of aiding the smuggling of irregular migrants and are due to appear before Nicosia district court on Friday, where a remand order will be requested.

The 16 migrants were taken to the Pournara reception centre in Kokkinotrimithia.