Austrian Court Finds 22 Greeks Guilty of Human Trafficking

Posted October 26th, 2011 at 12:40 pm (UTC-5)
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An Austrian court has found 22 Greeks guilty of human trafficking for transporting 30 Afghan migrants into Austria on a tourist bus.

Prosecutors in the Eisenstadt court said Tuesday the Greeks had been paid $140 each to travel as fake tourists on the bus into Austria, from Thessaloniki to Vienna. The prosecutors said the passengers were aware of the Afghans hidden among them on the bus and being smuggled into the country.

The Greeks were found guilty and received partially suspended sentences ranging from nine to 24 months in jail.

The 30 Afghans, including children, were concealed in a cramped space beneath the floorboards of the bus. They were provided with some food and water but were rarely let out for fresh air during the 24-hour journey.