DutchNews, September 18,
2015
Two Syrian nationals have been
arrested in the Netherlands and charged with smuggling ‘hundreds’ of people
into the country via Italy, Greece, Austria and Hungary.
The main suspect is a
35-year-old man based in Eindhoven. His 26-year-old nephew was also picked up,
as was an unidentified woman. She is suspected of handling the money and was
released on Sunday pending further investigation, the public prosecution
department said in a statement.
A 27-year-old man has also been arrested in
Budapest in connection with the case.
The public prosecutor said the smuggling
operation began in Turkey where people paid €7,000 to be taken to Greece or
Italy. The second leg of their journey, a car trip from Italy, cost a further
€700. Some of the cash had to be paid before leaving Turkey, the rest on
arrival.
The investigation into the gang began a year ago and involved the
authorities in Hungary, Germany, Austria and Hungary as well as Europol.
The
35-year-old man is a Syrian with refugee status. He is said to have organised
the transport, cars and drivers. According to the Nos, he was making up to
€120,000 a year, but demand in recent months had driven his earnings to €20,000
a week.
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