Serbia detains three human traffickers caught smuggling Afghan migrants
| Publisher | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty |
| Publication Date | 30 August 2016 |
| Cite as | Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, Serbia detains three human traffickers caught smuggling Afghan migrants, 30 August 2016, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/57db9a6bc.html [accessed 19 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
August 30, 2016
Serbia's Defense Ministry says security forces have detained three people for attempting to smuggle 64 Afghan migrants into the country, including a pregnant Afghan woman and a baby.
The ministry said on August 30 that a joint police and army patrol caught the smugglers late on August 29 near the border with Bulgaria as they were transferring the migrants into vehicles.
It said 34 migrants were packed into a van while another 30 migrants were about to board two cars.
Most of the migrants were men, but the group also included four women and several young children.
Serbia has formed joint police and army teams to patrol its borders with Bulgaria and Macedonia in order to stop the flow of migrants seeking to reach the European Union.
Belgrade wants to avoid a migrant pile-up following the introduction of tough antimigrant measures by neighboring EU-member Hungary.
Based on reporting by Reuters, AP, and AFP
Link to original story on RFE/RL website
