Balkan Traffickers Arrested

Thirty eight people, suspected of involvement in smuggling Albanians to western Europe, were arrested by Montenegrin, Croatian and Bosnian police on Wednesday and Thursday.

Montenegrin Police Administration said late on Thursday that, as part of a coordinated international police action, code-named "Plitvice", eight persons had been arrested in Montenegro, while another suspect was on the run.

Croatian police arrested 28 smugglers and Bosnia a further two.

There are five suspects still at large, three from Croatia, one from Montenegro and one from Albania.

"This organized smuggling of people from Albania, via Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia and Slovenia to EU countries went on for a long period of time", the police statement said.

Montenegrin police have forwarded the case to the special prosecutor for organized crime.

All those arrested are suspected of involvement in a criminal organization, illegal crossing of state borders and the organized smuggling of people.

Two of those detained are also suspected of illegal possession of arms and explosives, as well as forging money.

"During the action Montenegrin police found a quantity of munitions, explosive devices and forged banknotes. Croatian police, in addition, confiscated 6,000 pills of the ecstasy drug", Montenegrin police said.