'Successful' Frontex operation

A patrol boat carrying 27 illegal immigrants was expected to arrive at Lampedusa in the early hours of this morning, the AFM said last night.

At about 10 a.m. yesterday, the Armed Forces of Malta were informed by the rescue centre in Rome that a boat with illegal immigrants on board was spotted by an Italian trawler 75 miles south of Malta.

An AFM patrol boat reached the migrants at 12.30 p.m. The migrant boat was still moving and declined assistance from the patrol boat but the latter remained in the area.

At about 8.40 p.m., however, and nearer to Lampedusa than Malta, the sea got rougher and it was decided to take the illegal migrants on board and to Lampedusa after permission was sought and granted by the rescue centre in Rome.

"This is a living proof that the Frontex coordination in Operation Nautilus is a success," the AFM said.