From MaltaMedia.com

Law & Order
AFM searches for boatload of illegal immigrants
By MaltaMedia News
May 21, 2007 - 6:27:35 PM

An Armed Forces of Malta P-61 offshore patrol vessel with an overflying  Air Wing PBN Islander aircraft are trying to locate a boat carrying 53 illegal immigrants 88 nautical miles South of Malta.

the boat AFM was originally looking for

The illegal immigrants were meant to be brought to Haywharf at around 1800CEST after the vessel's engine ceased to work and started to take in water. However a search in the area for the adrift vessel is ongoing, an AFM spokesperson told MaltaMedia.

In a statement released earlier on Monday, the AFM said that the group was reported to the Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC) at Luqa Barracks by an African resident on Monday at around 0600CEST. The AFM Headquarters' Operations Centre immediately contacted the illegal immigrants to confirm the received information, and subsequently a long-range search aircraft was sent to the location to positively identify the drifting boatload of migrants. 

The number of persons onboard is estimated at 53, however it is unsure whether there are small infants or pregnant women aboard the boat. 

The vessel's engine ceased to work and it started taking in water.

Emergency contingency plans for their arrival have already commenced at Police General Head Quarters, St. Luke's Hospital and the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs' Detention Service.

More details will be published as made available.

Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature: Lanċa Ġejja u Ohra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.



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