Pergamos: Authorities at the British military base in Cyprus have employed 50% more customs officers and buy detection equipment to better thwart illegal immigration from the breakaway north of Split Island.
The addition of 24 new officers and four SUVs _ two with a thermal imaging camera _ allows the authorities to patrol around 45 kilometers (28 miles) (28 miles), said Adam Chatfield’s head Adam Chatfield.
There was a trend in the increase in the arrival of migrants over the past three years.
In 2018, the authorities found 17 people trying to cross in six instances.
It jumped to 33 people in 16 intersection efforts a year later, while 67 people were intercepted in nine crossing efforts last year.
Cyprus the gap along the ethnic line in 1974 when Turkey stormed after the coup was aimed at Union with Greece.
Cyprus Turkey Breakaway North stated independence almost a decade later, but only Turkey recognized it and retained more than 35,000 soldiers there.
The buffer zone controlled by the United Nations peacekeeper separates the north of the southern Greek Cyprus where the internationally recognized island government sits.
Although Cyprus is a member of the European Union, only the southern part enjoys the full benefits of blocks.
Dhekelia Garrison, one of two military bases maintained in the UK after Cyprus obtained independence from the British colonial government in 1960, directly borders north along the agricultural land corridors, houses and fields left behind which offered remote routes for smugglers, or for the people migrant.
There isn’t even a fence to separate the base from the north.
Chatfield told the Associated Press that migrants were usually intercepted in groups of 10 to 20 at an average level of once a month.
The extraordinary majority is now a Syrian man who is looking for asylum in the south.
The authorities of the base have an agreement with the Cyprus government to move asylum seekers to the south where their claims are processed.
Chatfield said arrangements were made to restore those who did not apply for asylum to the north.
Chatfield said the international trade network accused $ 5,000 per person to smuggle migrants to the south.
“Some come wetly coming straight from the ship with nothing but clothes on their backs,” he said.
“Detecting traders is a top priority for us and we will continue to do it.” Cyprus accused Turkey deliberately channeling the entrance migrants from the north, and had asked the European Union’s Frontex border bodies to enter and help.
The government said his ability to host more migrants had been stretched outside his limits, and also wanted the EU to manage the coming of Syria _ both directly from Syria or from Lebanon or Turkey, including transferring them to other EU countries.
Officials said 3,896 Syria had reached Cyprus from Turkey in the past two years, usually flew north before crossing the south.
British base on Cyprus Boost struggles against migrant traders
