Cyprus Police reported that 9,420 people have been deported or repatriated to their countries of origin as of December 13, 2024, up from 9,276 during the same period last year.
In its latest operation, the Aliens and Immigration Service participated in a joint FRONTEX forced return flight on Tuesday, which saw seven people who had been residing without permits in Cyprus removed from the country.
The deportation was carried out on a coordinated flight operated by Greek authorities under FRONTEX supervision.
The police statement noted that this marks Cyprus Police’s 16th participation in joint FRONTEX return operations for 2024.
The government has intensified efforts to deport those residing without permits in the country. Returns and voluntary departures have reached record-high levels.
However, Cyprus has been accused by international organisations including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the UN’s peacekeeping force in Cyprus (UNFICYP) of pushing back migrants in the buffer zone and the sea.
(information from CNA)
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