Fifty six irregular immigrants arrived on two separate boats yesterday, the police said.

Twenty-eight were brought ashore in the afternoon after having been spotted off the coast of Ta’ Xwejni, limits of Zebbug, Gozo.

As soon as the police approached the immigrants’ boat, some began jumping into the sea but all of them were eventually accounted for and brought to land.

The group comprised of 16 men, nine women and three children (two boys and one girl), the police said.

Another boat, also carrying 28 illegal immigrants, berthed in Marsascala, in the area known as tas-Siberja, at around 7.30pm.

The 17 men, nine women and two children were held by the police for further investigations.