Cops nab Egyptian traffickers
2008-08-13 21:10
Cairo - Egyptian police on Wednesday arrested a gang suspected of helping young Egyptians to travel to Europe under the guise of being athletes travelling to a training camp.
The police stopped seven young men who claimed to be kickboxers, as they were about to board a plane to Estonia. Police became suspicious since neither their physiques nor ages indicated they played any kind of sport.
The suspected ringleader is the head of an athletic academy in Egypt that took from each person 70 000 Egyptian pounds for helping them illegally migrate to Europe.
The seven Egyptians had valid visa entries to Estonia for a training camp there. However, they were not planning to continue their trip, as they were promised entry in Italy when the plane made a stop in Rome.
The police arrested the four men who claimed to be trainers accompanying the group. Gang members confessed that their boss had previously deceived several embassies and managed to get visa entries for many young people claiming they were athletes. - Sapa-dpa
- SAPA