Six men now arrested for smuggling migrants
Two more Syrian men, 29 and 27, were arrested as people smuggling suspects, following the arrival of six boats a few days ago with almost 500 migrants, police said on Thursday. This brings the total to six arrests.
According to police, the two men were in the first boat of migrants found off the coast of Cape Greco on Monday.
The arrest of the two men, who are expected in Famagusta District Court for a remand on Thursday, follows the arrest and remand of another two on Wednesday.
The 33-year-old was on the fourth boat, while the 27-year-old was on the fifth boat.
Meanwhile, on Tuesday another two men, 41 and 23 on the sixth boat, were remanded for eight-days.
The group of boats had a total of 458 migrants.
The migrants were initially escorted to safety at the Ayia Napa marina where their details were registered.
The boats carried a total of 30, 24, 62, 37, 22 and 283 people, of whom 258 men, 44 women, 123 children and 33 unaccompanied minors.
According to the police the six boats set off from Lebanon and the passengers paid $3,000 each for the journey, to an unknown individual.