Nine people were arrested by the Turkish Cypriot police near the village of Phyllia on Wednesday evening after being found attempting to illegally cross the Green Line into the Republic.

Phyllia is situated east of Morphou and sits opposite Peristerona and Akaki.

The police found two vehicles attempting to drive southwards across the Green Line at around 8.30pm, with nine people, eight men and one woman, being arrested.

During questioning, it was found that two of the men, aged 30 years old and 28 years old, had been paid by the other seven to drive them across the Green Line and into the Republic.

The police’s investigation into the matter is ongoing.