24 Feb 10 / 12:06:40
Macedonian police have busted an international human trafficking ring that transported illegal immigrants from Albania to Greece via Macedonia, the Ministry of the Interior has announced.
Sinisa-Jakov Marusic
14 suspects were detained on Tuesday in raids that the police conducted in the capital Skopje, and in the cities of Kicevo, Bitola, Gevgelija and Ohrid. The village of Veleshta near the Albanian border was also searched.
The police say they are still looking for five people.
“The fee for transporting immigrants of Albanian origin to Greece was from 2,000 to 2,500 euros,” Interior Minister Gordana Jankulovska told media at a press conference.
She said the police have evidence of at least 120 people illegally transported to Greece in as many as 50 shifts.
During the raids, the police found only one illegal immigrant, who has now been transferred to a shelter centre.
The police seized weapons, drugs and the vehicles used for the illegal transport.