A Greek court has ordered the release of a Somali migrant who had been sentenced to life in prison for human smuggling. The case has highlighted harsh sentencing guidelines in Greece introduced in recent years as part of an effort to fight irregular migration.
A migrant has died in an accident involving a fully loaded minibus in northeastern Greece. Another three migrants were seriously injured, Greek state radio reported. Smugglers in the region are known to repeatedly try to bring migrants from the Greek-Turkish border into western Greece, frequently leading to fatal accidents.
The Macedonian nationals are believed to have smuggled at least 86 people, charging them almost $1,000 each for a transfer through the Balkans. Police suspect three men from Middle Eastern countries are behind the smuggling group.
Six migrant smuggling suspects have been arrested in northern Italy. One man is accused of running a smuggling ring that transferred migrants from Milan to Switzerland and Germany.
German police has arrested four suspects who are accused of smuggling at least 300 migrants and refugees from Syria and Iraq to Germany. Police say that the men charged up to €10,000 per person.