Police arrested 29 third country nationals residing illegally in Cyprus during a nationwide operation carried out on Sunday night by members of the immigration services.

In a statement issued on Monday, police said the arrests formed part of ongoing efforts to identify and remove individuals living unlawfully in the republic.

Authorities said that since the beginning of the year, a total of 3,115 foreign nationals residing illegally in Cyprus have been repatriated through voluntary and forced return procedures.

Police also released updated figures showing a reduction in illegal arrivals compared with the same period last year.

According to the announcement, “illegal arrivals of third country nationals have been limited to 576”, compared with 730 recorded during the corresponding period in 2025.

The operation was conducted across multiple districts as part of coordinated checks targeting illegal residence and migration offences.

Police said efforts remain focused on increasing the number of returns of individuals residing unlawfully in Cyprus, working in cooperation with other state services involved in migration management and border control.

The authorities did not disclose the nationalities of those arrested or specify where the individuals were being held pending further procedures.