BUCHAREST: An Italian citizen was detained for migrant smuggling in Bors, Romania’s northwestern border with Hungary, Border Police Inspectorate of Oradea announced here the other day.
According to a statement by the Inspectorate, Border Police discovered Monday two citizens of Sri Lanka, who were trying to cross the border illegally, hidden in the trailer of a truck driven by an Italian citizen. He was carrying plastic crates for a company in Italy.
In a routine control, the police found, in the truck cab, a large travel bag, which held personal things for many people. Then, they began a thorough check and discovered the two men, hidden among the plastic crates in the trailer.
The verification revealed that the individuals concerned, two men aged 28 years, are citizens of Sri Lanka and asylum seekers in Romania.
According to the two young men, they planned to go to France, for which they got in touch with a fellow countryman, through whom they met with the Italian driver, who offered to transport them to the destination for 2,000 euros per person.
The two will face criminal charges for attempted illegal border crossing, while the Italian driver was detained for 24 hours and will be on charges of human trafficking.
The Italian, 45, will be brought on the day to the local tribunal, with a proposal for preventive arrest for 30 days, according to spokesman of Border Police Inspectorate of Oradea, police chief commissioner Laura Bondar.
Romania’s border with Hungary is the only way in the country for foreign migrants to enter the Schengen zone. Early this month, on Sept. 3, Romanian border police have caught three Syrian sailors attempting to cross the border with Hungary. They had left without permission their vessel stationed in eastern port of Constanta and traveled over 800 km to western Romania with the ultimate goal of reaching Germany.
