Official: Illegal transfers of migrants are run by criminals

Transfers of migrants through illegal channels are conducted by well-organised crime groups, and potential transfers of members of terrorist organisations, weapons and drugs pose a threat as well, says Aleksandar Nikolic, state secretary at the Serbian Ministry of Interior

At the opening of an OSCE conference in Monaco on fighting new cross-border threats in the Mediterranean through sharing information and cooperation, Nikolic said that illegal migrants reach Serbian territory via Turkey, Greece and Bulgaria and continue towards the EU by using illegal channels, the Serbian Interior Ministry said in a statement on Monday.

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The transfers are conducted by well-organised crime groups operating in their countries of origin, transit countries and the destination countries, and potential transfers of members of terrorist organisations, weapons, munitions as well as narcotics are one of the threats, too, Nikolic warned.

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He noted the necessity of raising awareness of the importance of Europol's role and the dialogue that the organisation is maintaining with police officials in member states.

Serbian police operations have been showcased many times as examples of good practice and efficient international cooperation, Nikolic added.

(Telegraf.co.uk/ Tanjug)