Filenews 15 March 2023
Twenty third-country nationals who were in Cyprus illegally departed last night for their country as part of a coordinated, forced-return joint operation organised by Frontex. A total of nine European countries participated in the operation, while for the first time Cyprus was the focal point of the operation.
The operation, which involved Greece, Romania, Italy, the Czech Republic, France, Malta, Spain and Sweden in addition to Cyprus, repatriated a total of 67 third-country nationals.
Cyprus was selected for the first time as the focal point of the FRONTEX operation. The missions of the other countries arrived in Cyprus, where they boarded the main aircraft of the operation and departed for the final destination of the mission.
The mission was accompanied by 34 members of the Police, as well as 13 Frontex Return Escort and Support Officers.
In another development, in a second repatriation operation, also carried out yesterday, eight other nationals of the same third country, who were in Cyprus illegally, returned to their country.
Since the beginning of the year, 1,680 third-country nationals have been repatriated through voluntary and forced return procedures.
