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Two Syrians detained in Netherlands for smuggling of refugees

Xinhua, September 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

Two Syrians were arrested by the Dutch military police for the smuggling of hundreds of Syrian refugees in Europe, the Dutch public prosecutor announced on Friday.

The main suspect, a 35-year-old man, and his nephew were held last Friday in Eindhoven and stayed in custody since. The main suspect had close ties with a 27-year-old Syrian co-suspect, who was arrested earlier this month in Budapest, Hungary.

The arrests are the result of close cooperation between authorities in Germany, Italy, Austria and Hungary.

One year ago the Dutch national public prosecutor started a criminal investigation into the prime suspect, who operated from Eindhoven. He organized the transport of Syrian refugees from Italy, Greece, Austria and Hungary to the Netherlands and other Western European countries.

The 26-year-old nephew of the prime suspect is, among other charges, suspected of recruiting refugees.

The crime profits of the smugglers poured from Milan, Vienna and Budapest via an underground banker to the Netherlands, according to the public prosecutor.

Cash was also delivered to a female relative in Eindhoven. This woman was arrested last week, but last Sunday she was set free pending further results of the investigation. Endit