Eighteen illegal immigrants were rescued from rough seas by an Italian trawler yesterday as the boat they were on was taking in water, a spokesman for the Armed Forces of Malta said. The boat was located about 50 nautical miles to the south east of Malta.

The group on board the boat consisted of 15 men and three women. The Italian skipper contacted the AFM and a patrol boat went out to rendezvous with the Italian trawler.

After they were transferred to the patrol boat the immigrants were landed at Haywharf at about 9.30 p.m. A police bus took the immigrants to one of the detention centres.

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