Greek police arrest 5 for migrant smuggling
Greek police report that five people have been arrested in two separate operations in the Greek city of Thessaloniki for planning to assist a total of 53 migrants in illegally crossing Greece's northern border with Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia (FYROM).
In the first operation, 18 migrants from Syria and Afghanistan were to be transported in two passenger cars to an undisclosed location in FYROM. The drivers of the two cars and two other individuals who were to follow in a third car were to be paid 1,000 euros ($1,100) each.
An intercity bus driver was also arrested Sunday for attempting to carry 35 migrants from Afghanistan, Iran and Pakistan to the border, an hour's drive from Thessaloniki, at 50 euros ($55) each. They were to cross the border themselves.
Attempts at illegal border crossings have increased recently. [AP]
