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Europe

The Latest: Greece arrests 5 aiming to smuggle in 87 Syrians

Associated Press
Published | Updated
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    In this Thursday, June 30, 2016, handout photo provided by the International Rescue Committee, actress Maisie Williams, center, poses for a photo with refugee girls in the Cherso refugee camp, northern Greece. Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams traveled to Greece with co-stars in the TV fantasy drama Liam Cunningham and Lena Headey to visit refugee camps with the relief organization, the International Rescue Committee. ( International Rescue Committee via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    In this Thursday, June 30, 2016 handout photo provided by the International Rescue Committee, Lena Headey, right, talks with young Syrian children at Cherso refugee camp in northern Greece. Game of Thrones star Lena Headey traveled to Greece with co-stars in the TV fantasy drama Liam Cunningham and Maisie Williams to visit refugee camps with the relief organization, the International Rescue Committee. (International Rescue Committee via AP) (The Associated Press)

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    The Ievoli Ivory ship arrives at the port of Melilli, Sicily, Italy, Thursday, June n30, 2016, carrying the wreck of the migrant ship that sank off Sicily on April 18, 2015, with an estimated 700 people onboard. The Italian Navy, that conducted the operations, says it's raised the boat toward the surface from a depth of more than 1200 feet. The wreck is being kept in a refrigerated transport structure for the trip back to land, where forensic experts will begin trying to identify the victims. (Domenico Trovato/ANSA via AP) (The Associated Press)

SKOPJE, Macedonia – The Latest on Europe's migration issues. (all times local):

11:10 p.m.

Greek police say they have arrested five individuals ready to smuggle 87 Syrian migrants, including 46 children, through the border with Albania.

The five — one Greek, one Iraqi and three Syrians — were arrested in the northern Greek city of Thessaloniki as they were ready to board the 87 onto a bus with Bulgarian license plates.

Each adult migrant had to pay $5,000 in stages until they reached central Europe, the migrants told police. Police say the migrants' final destination, as well as the exact travel arrangements, were not yet known.

Migrant trafficking has increased since Balkan countries closed their borders to migrants last March. This is the first known case of using Albania instead of the usual route through Macedonia.

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5:20 p.m.

Macedonian police say they have discovered 73 illegal migrants in a truck during a routine check early Saturday near Macedonia's border with Serbia.

The migrants are from Syria, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Pakistan. Most of them are women with children, police said.

The 35-year-old truck driver, a Macedonian, has been detained. He had charged the migrants an undisclosed amount for the expected transfer across the border.

Macedonia, a tiny Balkan country wedged between Greece to the south and Serbia to the north, lies on a main travel route for migrants who want to reach wealthier European countries.

People smuggling has been on the rise since Balkan countries closed their borders to migrants in March.