A 26-year-old man has been arrested for assisting illegal immigration by sea after a boat ferrying 16 people arrived on Monday at Famagusta.

The latest development on occurred on Wednesday night following a warrant being issued for the young man, after details emerged soon after the arrest of a 37-year-old on Monday – the person believed to be the navigator.

Background checks on the 37-year-old revealed he had previously resided in the republic and had been declared a prohibited immigrant.

The case remains under investigation.

Last Sunday, two men – aged 42 and 20 – were arrested in a similar case when 58 immigrants arrived by sea.