Authorities in Greece say nine people from Greece and Iraq have been arrested after allegedly using use a light aircraft to transport stranded migrants from western Greece to Italy.
Police and judicial authorities say that the arrests were made a day earlier as arrangements were being made to transport a group of migrants from a flight club outside the western Greek town of Missolonghi. The suspects include a light aircraft pilot and a former municipal official from the town.
More than 40,000 refugees and migrants are stranded in Greece following border closures and restrictions by Austria and several Balkan countries — leaving many to turn to smugglers to try to reach western Europe.
Police say the alleged smugglers in Missolonghi had used the aircraft to transport drugs to western Europe but had recently switched to migrant-trafficking.
Migrants were charged between 4,500 and 7,500 euros ($5,100-8,500) each for the trip to Italy, police said.
— AP
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