TIRANA, Albania (AP) — Albanian authorities say they have arrested 15 people allegedly involved in human trafficking to the United States.
The group operating in the capital Tirana and the northern city of Shkoder, had been charging people $20,000 (14,500 euro) each to take them to Mexico, via Bulgaria, Italy or Spain, and then supplying them with false documentation to enter the United States.
More than 50 persons were trafficked to the U.S. this way, authorities said. The arrests followed months of close work with U.S. authorities.
The prosecutor general’s spokesman Albi Serani said Monday that investigations are ongoing as more persons could have been involved in the illegal operation.
Albanians have been able to travel to European Union member countries without a visa since 2010. They require a visa for the United States.
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