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Cypriot police intercepted 16 irregular migrants, including eight minors, in the village of Peristerona on Thursday evening, while arresting nine people suspected of aiding human trafficking.
According to a police statement, the Green Line Surveillance Sub-Directorate spotted the migrants around 9:30 p.m. on the main road of Peristerona. Officers also noticed three vehicles acting suspiciously in the area. The nine occupants of these vehicles were taken into custody on charges of assisting the trafficking of irregular migrants and are expected to appear before the Nicosia District Court today for a detention hearing.
The 16 migrants were transferred to the “Pournara” First Reception Center in Kokkinotrimithia, where they will remain while authorities continue processing the case.
The Morphou Crime Detection Department is continuing its investigation into the incident.
