Two arrests made in migrant ransom ring
Police arrested two men suspected of being part of a migrant smuggling ring which held 60 illegal immigrants hostage in a house in western Athens until their relatives paid ransoms for their release. It is at least the third incident this year of illegal immigrants being held captive until their families handed over a ransom – in this case, between 3,000 and 6,000 euros so the immigrants could be transported into Greece. The illegal immigrants, mostly from Asia, entered Greece through Turkey. Thousands of illegal immigrants enter western Europe through Greece every year. After raiding the apartment in Peristeri late Tuesday, police discovered five illegal immigrants being held against their will. Police did not say what happened to the remaining migrants. Officers also found 10,000 euros and three mobile phones. Police were still searching for two more men connected to the people-smuggling operation. Meanwhile, border guards in the Evros region arrested a 48-year-old truck driver crossing into the country from Turkey yesterday after discovering 18 illegal immigrants in the back of his lorry.
