44 Irregular Migrants Sent Back To Their Home Overnight

A total of 44 irregular migrants were returned to their countries of origin overnight in an operation coordinated by the Malta Police Force between Sunday 28 December and Monday 29 December 2025. The individuals had been disembarked in Malta on 12 December after being rescued at sea by the Armed Forces of Malta.

The operation followed another return exercise carried out days earlier involving four individuals, bringing the total number of irregular migrants returned within just 17 days to 48. Authorities described the latest operation as significant, both due to the number of people involved and the short timeframe between arrival and return.

The swift repatriation was made possible through coordination between the Malta Police Force, several directorates within the Ministry for Home Affairs, Security and Employment, and the Ministry for Foreign Affairs and Tourism.

With this latest return, the government have stated that 81% of irregular migrants who arrived in Malta during 2025 have now been sent back to their countries of origin. Arrivals have remained at historically low levels, with figures over the past five years showing a 93% decrease.

#MaltaDaily