People smuggling

The Latest: Kosovo police arrest 8 for alleged smuggling


Kosovo police say they have arrested eight members of an alleged gang that smuggled people into western European countries.

A statement Friday said the eight were detained in three cities with help from the European Union police agency Europol and law enforcement agencies in Hungary, Croatia, Slovenia and Italy.

Kosovo police allege the gang smuggled 35 ethnic Albanian minors mostly to Italy. The statement says smugglers were paid 3,000-3,500 Euros ($3,370-3,930) per person.

In recent years, Kosovo has been among the main countries of origin for migrants to western European countries, especially Germany.