Suspected people smugglers remanded

Two suspected people smugglers on Monday were remanded for eight days by the Famagusta District court, following the arrival of three migrant boats over the weekend.

The two men, 18 and 41, were found on a first boat that arrived on Saturday in the Cape Greco area carrying 54 migrants, while the next carrying 97 arrived later in the evening, and the third with 101 migrants arrived early Sunday morning.

All the migrants were registered upon arrival in Cyprus and taken to the migrant reception centre Pournara in Kokkinotrimithia for further processing.

Migrants on the third boat with 101 people onboard, were brought to shore with the help of three police ships, as it had engine trouble due to being overloaded.

The two men arrested were brought court on Monday, following the arrivals, and issued an eight-day remand.

They face people smuggling charges, along with charges of aiding people to enter the Republic illegally, and attempting to profit off smuggling third country nationals on an unsafe and overburdened ship.