Serbian police find 29 migrants, arrest suspected smuggler
Posted June 27, 2016 7:00 am
BELGRADE, Serbia (AP) - Serbian police say they have found 29 migrants with no documents and arrested a suspected people smuggler.
Police said Monday they discovered the migrants in a southern village near the border town of Presevo. They say migrants were packed in two cars with false plates. The man caught with the migrants faces charges of illegal crossing of the border and people smuggling.
The smuggling of migrants through the Balkans has been on the rise since the nations shut their borders in March, closing down the traditional refugee route toward Western Europe.
More than one million people entered Europe last year and nations have been shutting down their borders to curb the influx.
Migrants wait on the deck of the 'Aquarius' vessel after arriving to the port of Messina in Sicily, Italy, Sunday June 26, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived in Messina after being rescued on the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
A woman has her temperature checked after she disembarked from the 'Aquarius' vessel in Messina, Sicily island, Italy, Sunday, June 26, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived in Messina after being rescued on the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
Migrants disembark the 'Aquarius' vessel, as others wait to leave the ship after arriving to Messina, Sicily island, Italy, Sunday, June 26, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived in Messina after being rescued on the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
An African migrant disembarks from the 'Aquarius' vessel after arriving to the port of Messina,Sicily island, Italy, Sunday, June 26, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived in Messina after being rescued on the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
Migrants disembark the 'Aquarius' vessel after arriving to the port of Messina, Sicily island, Italy, Sunday, June 26, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived in Messina after being rescued on the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
Two women seen through a window as they look out of the porthole from aboard the 'Aquarius' rescue vessel after arriving in Sicily, Italy, on Sunday June 25, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived at port in Messina, Sicily, after being rescued from the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
A migrant sits on the deck of the 'Aquarius' vessel as the boat passes a cruise ship in the port of Messina, Italy, Sunday, June 26, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived in Messina after being rescued on the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
A group of women look out through a porthole from aboard the 'Aquarius' rescue vessel after arriving in Sicily, Italy, on Sunday June 26, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived at port in Messina, Sicily, after being rescued from the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
A woman looks out of the porthole from aboard the 'Aquarius' rescue vessel after arriving in Sicily, Italy, on Sunday June 25, 2016. A group of more than 650 migrants arrived at port in Messina, Sicily, after being rescued from the Mediterranean Sea earlier this week. (AP Photo/Bram Janssen)
The Associated Press
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