Ten arrested on suspicion of human trafficking

Ten arrested on suspicion of human trafficking

BELGRADE -- The Serbian police have arrested ten people on suspicion that their organized crime group illegally crossed state borders and engaged in human trafficking.

This criminal activity took place between January and mid-May this year, the MUP said on Wednesday.

The suspects were arrested on orders from the Prosecutor's Office for Organized Crime in Belgrade in a police investigation conducted with the Hungarian National Bureau of Investigation, following months of exchanging information and evidence, the Interior Ministry (MUP) said in a statement.

It has been established that the criminal group was organized by 27-year-old V.T. from Subotica, the place of residence of most arrestees, who also include B.D., a 38-year-old Croatian citizen from Osijek, the statement said.

They are suspected of having trafficked nearly 100 illegal migrants, mostly Pakistani, Syrian and Afghan citizens, to Hungary and other EU countries.

V.T. obtained illicit gains of EUR 200-1000 per illegal migrant depending on the destination, with other members of the criminal group pocketing EUR 50-200 per migrant or transfer.

The ministry's statement said that three human trafficking chains leading through Hungary have been broken so far in collaboration with Hungarian police officials.

This prevented 49 illegal migrants from being transferred to Western European countries, mostly Austria and Italy, the statement also said.

Interior Minister Nebojša Stefanović held a news conference in Novi Sad today to say the operation was planned for "a very long time" and confirmed it was carried out in cooperation with Hungarian authorities...