20 illegal immigrants allegedly of African origiin were found about 55 nautical miles southeast of Malta in a boat that stopped due to mechanical problems. Members of the Armed Forces of Malta brought them ashore at the AFM's maritime squad headquarters at Hay Wharf and handed them over to the police.
The vessel was sighted by a Panama registered boat the Maya B who reported the boat with illegal immigrants to the Rescue Coordination Centre in Malta, and then remained to help with the AFM rescue operations.
An AFM islander aircraft was sent to the site along with the AFM patrol boat P61. Bad weather conditions did not help the rescue operation however all the immigrants were saved and brought ashore.
Read more about this issue on MaltaMedia's special feature:
Lanċa Ġejja u Oħra Sejra: Malta and its migrations.
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