Five arrested in Western Thrace in separate migrant smuggling operations

Police arrested five foreign nationals on suspicion of migrant smuggling in four separate operations in the regions of Meriç (Evros) and Rodopi, authorities said Sunday.

According to the General Regional Police Directorate of Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, officers intercepted a total of 23 undocumented migrants allegedly being transported illegally into the country.

The first arrest took place Saturday morning on the Ormenio–Ardani national highway, where police stopped a vehicle carrying six undocumented migrants. A female driver was arrested on suspicion of migrant smuggling.

Later the same day, officers on the Dedeağaç (Alexandroupoli)– Gümülcine (Komotini) national highway detained a second suspect after discovering six undocumented migrants inside a vehicle.

In a third incident on Saturday afternoon, police arrested another suspect in a rural area of Meriç (Evros) after finding five undocumented migrants being transported in a vehicle.

Counterfeit banknotes seized

The fourth operation was carried out early Sunday by border guards from Dimetoka (Didymoteicho) in a settlement in Meriç (Evros). Two suspects were arrested while traveling in a vehicle towing a trailer containing six undocumented migrants.

Authorities said the trailer was fitted with counterfeit license plates. Officers also found 15 counterfeit banknotes in the possession of one of the suspects.

Police seized the vehicles involved, fake license plates, the counterfeit currency and several mobile phones as part of the investigation.

Investigation ongoing

The five suspects are expected to appear before the relevant public prosecutors.

According to AMNA, preliminary investigations are being conducted by the Border Guard Departments of Dimetoka (Didymoteicho) and Şapçı (Sapes) as authorities continue efforts to combat migrant smuggling networks operating along Greece's northeastern border.