Nine arrested for allegedly smuggling migrants along the Balkan route

An organization allegedly dedicated to aiding and abetting clandestine migration through the Balkan route was uncovered by Tuscany’s Siena Flying Squad last week.

Nine Pakistanis were arrested following the orders of Florentine’s anti-mafia district directorate.

All those arrested have been charged with crimes related to the organization of illegal entry of multiple fellow nationals, as well as robbery, injuries and attempted extortion.

Inquiry launched a year ago

The inquiry began in March 2023 when an aggression against two Pakistani citizens by several persons belonging to a criminal organization took place.

On the same day, as well as the day after, one of the victims was held forcibly in an apartment in the center of Siena in what officials later uncovered was an attempted kidnapping to obtain more money for the journey that had brought him to Italy.

The individuals allegedly guided irregular migrants along section of the so-called Balkan route that runs through Italy.

They obtained payment through a money transfer shopkeeper who acted as an intermediary in Athens for members of the criminal organization based in Siena, but with logistics bases in Greece and Bosnia.

Migrants were subjected to threats and extortion

Once they arrived in Italy, the migrants were supposedly subjected to aggression, threats and extortion. Those who tried to escape were seriously wounded.

One of the migrants was found in an apartment in the center of Siena, kidnapped by three fellow nationals for a contested debt of 2,000 euros.