Two remanded after migrant boat intercepted leaving Cyprus

Two men, aged 34 and 33, were both handed eight-day remands on Wednesday after being accused of having trafficked the 20 people found aboard a migrant boat which had departed Cyprus for Italy on Tuesday.

The pair reportedly made “various allegations” while in court, all of which are being investigated.

A coastguard patrol vessel intercepted the boat at around 3.30am on Tuesday around seven nautical miles of the coast of Zakaki, finding 12 men, three women and five children on board.

The boat had, according to investigators, set off from near the village of Moni in the hope of reaching Italy.

The boat’s passengers were safely transported to the Limassol port on Tuesday, where they reportedly told the police they had paid for the trip.