People smugglers caught in Slovakia

The Slovak police have arrested a Syrian-Slovak couple suspected of intending to smuggle Syrians with modified passports into Europe. A police investigator has charged 38-year-old Syrian Abdul T. and 32-year-old Slovak Veronika T. of people smuggling. They face up to eight years in prison if convicted. According to Police spokesperson Denisa Baloghová, the couple are thought to have collected at least 30 passports from Syrian citizens in Damascus. "Upon arriving in Slovakia, they were supposed to obtain visa stamps that would allow Syrians to apply for temporary residence. These modified passports were supposed to be sent back so that the Syrians could enter the European Union and Slovakia," stated Baloghova. The couple is alleged to have received at least €30,000 for procuring the modified passports. Evidence has been collected at the couple's house in eastern Slovakia. The Slovak Embassy in Lebanon assisted the Slovak investigators.