Over the past weeks, the Malta Police Force arrested over 208 people living in Malta illegally, the government said in a statement.

Out of these 208, 184 people have been deported from Malta, with the government saying that flights were coordinated to this effect.  The statement did not contain information as to whether they were repatriated or sent to other countries.

The 208 people who were arrested for living in the country illegally came from various African, Asian, Eastern European and South American countries, the government said.

The coordinated operations gave particular attention to the areas of Paula, Fgura, Marsa, Hamrun, Attard, Bugibba, St. Pauls Bay and Gozo, the statement read.

During these operations, "another breach of law was identified, and people were taken before the courts."

The government said that the work being done is part of a strategy aimed at creating safer localities, where "a clear message is being sent that breaking the law must not be tolerated. It also said that the exploitation of the irregular status of a person will not be tolerated, "and that is why steps were taken to deliver this clear message."

Over the past weeks, police statements regarding raids in various localities have been reported. In addition, a Syrian man who lives in Malta was charged in court earlier this month on accusations of human trafficking after he allegedly coordinated the arrival of a group of illegal immigrants in Malta.