Afghan Man, 43, Arrested in Vlora After Attempting to Send 10 Migrants from Greece to Italy

Vlora Border Police have arrested in flagrante delicto M. E., a 43-year-old Afghan national, suspected of organizing an attempt to illegally transport 10 migrants to Italy. He was aboard the inflatable boat found sailing near Sazan Island.

The incident was uncovered a day earlier, when the 11 migrants from third countries were at risk of drowning while traveling by inflatable boat. The intervention of the Border Police made it possible to identify the case and launch an investigation.

According to the initial investigative actions, the 43-year-old, in cooperation with an Albanian national who has not yet been identified, had organized the illegal crossing into Albania from Greece of 10 foreign nationals through the border with Greece. The aim was then to send them to Italy.

The inflatable boat had been collected by M. E. in Seman, Fier, from a location sent to him by his Albanian accomplice. The vessel had been made available to him to transport the 10 migrants to Italy.

Crime Investigation specialists at the Vlora Directorate of Border and Migration, in cooperation with the Prosecutor’s Office, arrested the 43-year-old following swift and professional investigations on charges of “Assisting Illegal Border Crossing.”

The other 10 individuals aboard the inflatable boat were also placed under criminal investigation for “Illegal Crossing of the State Border.” They are originally from Bangladesh, Pakistan, Liberia and Haiti.

The investigative structures of the Vlora Directorate of Border and Migration and the Prosecutor’s Office are continuing intensive investigations to fully clarify the circumstances of the incident. Efforts are also focused on identifying and apprehending the Albanian national involved, as well as other individuals who may have taken part in the attempted smuggling of migrants from third countries to Italy.