The Cyprus Police launched a large-scale coordinated operation at dawn today to locate and detain third-country nationals residing illegally on the island. During the six-hour sweep, which spanned all districts, officers arrested 31 individuals of various nationalities. Seven of those detained have already been deported or repatriated to their home countries, with authorities currently processing the remaining cases for immediate removal.
The operation commenced at 6:00 am and concluded at noon, involving specialist units from the Aliens and Immigration Service (YAM) and the Green Line Surveillance and Migration Flow Management Sub-Directorate. These targeted actions form part of a broader national strategy that has fundamentally shifted the balance of migration in the Republic over the last three years.
Official data confirms a sharp decline in irregular entries alongside a record increase in departures. During 2025, authorities repatriated 11,742 individuals through voluntary and forced return procedures, surpassing the 10,092 removals recorded in 2024. Simultaneously, irregular arrivals plummeted to 2,444 in 2025, a significant drop from the 6,109 arrivals in 2024 and a drastic reduction from the 17,434 recorded at the height of the crisis in 2022. Police maintain that these intensified daily checks remain a cornerstone of their efforts to manage migration flows and enforce residency laws across the country.