Members of the police force arrested 17 illegal immigrants following a raid at an accommodation establishment in Bugibba on Sunday morning.

The Police Force said in a statement that during the raid, over 50 people were inspected and 17 of those were found to be living in the country illegally.

These people – who hail from Syria, Pakistan, Egypt, and Ghana – were arrested and the process for their deportation from the country has begun.

Police said the investigations in connection with this case will continue and that this work is part of continuous inspections and patrols in communities “with the aim of safeguarding everyone’s safety.”

The police said that 37 people are currently also being held at the detention centre after patrols and raids earlier in the week.  They are set to be deported in the coming days.