Man arrested after spotted picking up irregular migrant

A 26-year-old was arrested on Thursday evening in connection with a case of assisting third-country nationals to illegally enter the Republic

At around 9pm a police patrol spotted a man of African origin hiding in an open area of Larnaca, with his luggage with him.

Police officers put the place under surveillance and at around 9.30 a car was seen approaching the man with its lights turned off, finally stopping at the point where the unknown man was. After the stranger placed his luggage in the vehicle and got in the car left.

The police followed the vehicle and a short distance later stopped it for inspection.

The 24-year-old man in the passenger seat said he had arrived in the north on September 20 with the intention of crossing into the Republic and applying for asylum.

The driver of the vehicle, the 26-year-old, was later arrested after a warrant was issued to facilitate interrogations regarding the offence of assisting third-country nationals to illegally enter the Republic.

The migrant was transferred to the Pournara reception centre.