Sixteen persons who were found to be staying illegally in Malta have been arrested by the police and the process has been started for their repatriation.

The police said the arrests were made during inspections on Tuesday in St Paul's Bay and Birzebbuġa.

The arrested people were from  Ghana, Niġeria, Gambia, Mali, Siria, Benin and  Pakistan. They are being held in a detention centre. 

The police said inspections will continue in the coming days.