A boatload of 25 illegal immigrants were brought ashore yesterday in Birzebbuga.

The police arrived there immediately and brought them ashore.

There were 25 illegal immigrants in all, 13 of them male, seven women and five children.

Police investigations are still underway.

A total of 29 irregular immigrants were brought ashore by the Armed Forces of Malta in the early hours of yesterday morning.

The group, consisting of 20 males, five females and four minors, was on a small boat some miles of the southern tip of Malta. The boat was in distress and the AFM were sent out to assist those on board. They were brought ashore off Wied Buni in Birzebbuga. The police are investigating.