Four illegal male migrants were arrested in Paphos over the weekend, police said on Monday.

Members of the crime prevention unit and traffic police arrested a 25-year-old man on Sunday who was wanted for staying illegally in the republic since January 17, 2021.

The man appears to have submitted an application as a political refugee on March 27, 2019 which was rejected in October the same year. After the rejection, the man applied for a residence permit as the husband of a European citizen on May 29, 2020, which was also rejected.

Police said they have been looking for the man ever since.

In a second arrest, officers found three men, 23, 25 and 29 in Skoulli village, who have also been residing in Cyprus illegally.

The older man entered the republic as an asylum seeker, but his application was rejected on February 28 this year. Police said the 25-year-old’s application was also rejected on May 6 this year. The 23-year-old man appears to have entered the government-controlled areas through the north two months ago and he has since been residing illegally in the republic.

Procedures started for the deportation of all four men.