NEWS

Four suspects arrested over drowning of 12 Syrian migrants off Lefkada

Four suspects arrested in connection with the drowning of 12 immigrants off Lefkada last week are due to face a magistrate on the Ionian island on Monday.

Two of the suspects were arrested on Saturday and another two were taken into custody on Sunday. Two of the suspects are Greek and another two are foreign nations. Police are searching for two more members of the alleged trafficking ring.

It is believed that 27 Syrian immigrants traveled by bus from Athens to a meeting point near Amfilochia. There, they were loaded into a van and two cars and driven to the seaside town of Palairos, which is opposite Lefkada. The traffickers had a small boat there ready for the immigrants so they could attempt to reach Italy.

After the boat capsized, the traffickers, bar the 58-year-old, left Palairos in the three vehicles, which they later dumped. All three have been recovered by police.

Authorities said that none of the 15 migrants rescued following the accident is facing any serious health problems.

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