Huge Migrant-Trafficking Bust - Greek Police Seeking More Suspects

Greek police officials announced that they are seeking a man and a woman, and possibly other suspects, in connection with a migrant-trafficking outfit discovered when 31 illegal migrants were arrested in the town of Aitoliko earlier this week shortly after they were let off a coach that had taken there from Athens. According to the authorities, each migrant had paid between 500 and 1,500 euros for their passage to Italy.

Also arrested as migrant traffickers were two Greek nationals, an Albanian and two Iraqis aged 49, 38, 36, 41 and 38 years old, respectively.

The five under arrest and the two sought by police are suspected of having formed a gang that transported illegal migrants from Greece to Italy. The bust was made by Messolonghi security police and the Aitolikos police department, who were acting on a tip-off. Based on the information at their disposal, police identified a hired coach driven by the 49-year-old, which had earlier let off the 31 migrants in a remote area at the Acheloos River estuary.

They also found two passenger vehicles driven by the other four suspects, which were driving before and behind the coach.

Based on a police investigation, the 49-year-old had made arrangements with the woman now being sought to pick up the 31 migrants at a central metro station in Athens on Monday afternoon. He then drove them to the Aitolikos region and, with the other suspects under arrest, led them to the Acheloos estuary. Their final destination was Italy, so police are also conducting an investigation to determine whether arrangements had been made and with whom to take them there by boat. (AMNA)