Police officers have arrested 28 people who were living in the country irregularly, the Police Force said in a statement.

The police led coordinated inspections tied to irregular migration and irregular commercial activity in Hamrun. The inspections took place in public areas and shops, and continued in private residences around the country.

28 people coming from Syria, Nepal, Mali Ghana, Nigeria and Burkina Faso were arrested in the operation after being found to be in the country irregularly. The police, together with the work and tax authorities are also investigating shops in which searches tied to abuse of work or commerce laws and regulations were carried out, it said.

All those arrested are being held in a detention centre until they are returned to their country of origin or a country they can reside in, the police said.