35 people were arrested between Saturday and Sunday for living and working in Malta illegally, the police said in a statement on Sunday.

The police said that inspections were carried out on public transport, in public places in Marsa, and during the night in Paceville between Saturday and the early hours of Sunday morning.

The 35 individuals arrested hail from Syria, Afghanistan, Ghana, Brazil, Mali, Nepal, Pakistan, Nigeria, Niger, Gambia, Sudan, and Ivory Coast.

They are being detained at a Detention Centre, and an order for them to be deported from Malta has been issued.  They will remain detained until they are repatriated to their country of origin or the European Union country where they have permission to live.

Police said that the inspections were carried out in conjunction with the Detention Services Agency and will continue in the coming weeks.