Illegal immigrants make land at Zurrieq

Another 34 illegal immigrants landed in Malta yesterday.

The immigrants landed at Wied iz-Zurrieq at about 1 p.m. but were rounded up by the police shortly after.

One of them was unconscious because he was dehydrated and was taken to St Luke's hospital by means of an AFM helicopter. Another was hospitalised later, also suffering from dehydration. Both were released late in the afternoon.

The immigrants, all men, arrived on a boat with a single 48 hp outboard engine. Police sources noted that the outboard motor was of the same make and strength that had been used by other illegal immigrants this summer.

The immigrants claimed to be from Egypt and Palestine, but one said he was an Iraqi and three said they were Sudanese.

Immigration police were yesterday involved in more work, this time trying to round up foreigners who were in Malta illegally.

In a raid co-ordinated by Inspector Neville Aquilina in the Bugibba area yesterday morning, 25 foreign nationals were arrested. Among those detained by the police were Libyans, Serbs, Ukrainians and Bulgarians.