The police have finalized the coded operation "Phases", hitting a criminal group that dealt with the organization and passage of illegal immigrants from third countries to the EU, in exchange for money. 

In the last phase of this operation, two cases were hit and 9 people were arrested. 

The group, against payments of 3,500-5,000 euros (which were sent through money transfer points), transported immigrants from Nepal, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India, who followed the route "Turkey-Greece-Albania" and intended to pass to the countries of the European Union. 

The emigrants, after gathering in Greece, were passed by the members of this network, from the green border, to Saranda, Gjirokastër and Korça. Afterwards, the immigrants were accommodated in different facilities and transported in rented vehicles towards Shkodra, to illegally cross the border with Montenegro. 

"As a result of the in-depth investigative actions carried out as part of a criminal proceeding referred a few months ago, by the Durres Police, to the Prosecutor's Office next to the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of Durres, for the illegal crossing of the border, that was carried out in an organized manner by some citizens, the services of the Kavajë Police Station and the specialists of the Anti-Traffic Section of the DVP Durres finalized the coded police operation "Phases". 

As part of this operation, 9 citizens were arrested, as follows: 

-F. K., 54 years old, resident in Tirana, Sh. P., 58 years old, resident of Saranda, D. S., 48 years old and R. H., 18 years old, both residents of Kavajë (arrested in the act during the operation); 

-A. T., 32 years old, resident of Krujë, H. M., 37 years old, resident of Kavajë, E. P., 49 years old, resident of Saranda, E. S., 24 years old and L. K., 44 years old, both residents of Lushnjë (detained by order of the prosecutor, as a result of investigations). 

In addition, citizens F. U., 29 years old and B. D., 23 years old, both residents of Krujë, were declared wanted, and the investigations started for the citizen H. B., 65 years old, resident in Durrës. 

In the framework of this operation, previously, 4 other citizens were arrested who were caught in the act, transporting immigrants, on the Lezhë-Shkodër road axis and in Shijak. 

From the intensive actions carried out with proactive methods, it has become possible to document the criminal activity of these citizens, who, organized as a criminal group, against payments of 3500-5000 euros (which were sent through money transfer points), transported immigrants from Nepal , Afghanistan, Bangladesh and India, following the "Turkey-Greece-Albania" route and intending to pass to the countries of the European Union. 

The emigrants, after gathering in Greece, were passed by the members of this network, from the green border, to Saranda, Gjirokastër and Korça. Afterwards, the immigrants were accommodated in different facilities and transported in rented vehicles towards Shkodra, to illegally cross the border with Montenegro. 

The procedural materials will be handed over to the Prosecutor's Office at the Court of First Instance of the General Jurisdiction of Durrës, for further investigations," the police said.