|
Italian police smash immigrant smuggling
ring
15.12.2005
|
|
|
|
Rome, 15 Dec.
(AKI) - Police in Italy have broken up a vast
international crime ring specialising in trafficking
people from Kurdistan to Europe. The Rome-based
network was headed by an Iraqi Kurd, Ali Ako, also
known as Arsalan. More than 90 people have been
arrested across Europe, more than half of them in
Italy. The ring smuggled more than 5,000 illegal
immigrants into Italy before sending them on to
other EU states, in particular Britain. The migrants
paid up to 15,000 dollars for their passage on boats
or lorries.
The arrests, announced on Thursday, were the result
of a three-year investigation named Operation Tazir
(immigration in Arabic) that was led by Rome police
but also involved counterparts in other European
states.
The probe began in 2002 after a long haul lorry
coming from Greece was found to be carrying illegal
migrants. Two of them died during their journey,
while two others survived.
Ali Ako at that time was simply a driver.
However despite various arrests, the organisation
was able to re-group. Ali Ako established a base at
a call-centre in central Rome, but the ring also had
tentacles in other parts of Italy from the southern
port of Brindisi to Bolzano, near the Austrian
border.
The network oversaw the transport, even on regular
ferries connecting Greece to Italy, of illegal
migrants, hidden in cramped and dangerous conditions
inside tiny spaces inside lorries or freight
containers.
Families paid up to 15,000 dollars for their passage
and if they failed to pay up the organisations would
threaten or harm their families in their home
countries. Police say they believe Ali Ako made
several million dollars from people-smuggling.
Italy's national anti-mafia police chief Pietro
Grasso said their methods illustrate " a criminal
structure very similar to a mafia group".
Each years thousands of illegal migrants try to
enter Italy, most of them coming on flimsy boats
from the North African coast. Hundreds have drowned
when their boats capsized or when their smugglers
forced them overboard.
www.adnki.com
Top |
Kurd Net
does not take credit for and is not responsible for the content of news
information on this page
|
® 