In Thessaloniki, Greece, six individuals identified as members of a significant human trafficking network have been apprehended by Greek police.
The group is accused of violently extorting money from migrants, assisting their passage into neighbouring Albania and onward travel to European Union countries to the north. The arrested suspects include a Syrian, a Palestinian, and four Iraqis, taken into custody at a village located less than 10 kilometres from the Albanian border on Saturday.
This follows the arrest of seven additional gang members in the same area on September 28, during which 11 migrants were discovered detained in shacks and abandoned military outposts. In September, authorities revealed that the traffickers, who had already collected over 1,000 euros (approximately $1,100) from each migrant for facilitating their crossing into Albania, subsequently detained them and demanded an additional 1,500 euros ($1,640). The traffickers allegedly subjected the migrants to torture, recording the sessions and sending the footage to the victim's relatives in the Middle East and South Asia.
During this recent operation, no migrants were found in the company of the traffickers. The police are actively pursuing seven additional members of the gang who remain at large.
Source AP
