139 illegal immigrants were rescued by an Armed Forces of Malta’s patrol vessel, 87 miles south-south-west of Malta, and brought to the Island on Monday evening.

The illegal migrants made contact from onboard their vessel by satellite phone with the Italian Coast Guard’s MRCC station in Rome on Sunday.

Once, the migrants’ vessel was sighted by the AFM Air Wing Islander (AW-19) aircraft, and accosted by its patrol-vessel; it was then ascertained that there were 103 males and 36 females, 10 of whom appeared pregnant as well.

No children were reported on board.

Initial reports indicate that the illegal migrants’ group was made up of Somalis, Ghanaians and Nigerians.

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