Greece: Somali migrants found crammed into fake tour bus bound for Italy

THESSALONIKI, Greece – Police in northern Greece say 19 Somali migrants have been found hidden under the roof of a fake tour bus headed to Italy, and 23 Greeks alleged to be posing as tourists were arrested.

The 12 women and seven men were found crammed in the 35 centimeter- (13.7 inch-) high compartment after police stopped and searched the bus Tuesday outside Thessaloniki city.

Giorgos Pantelakos, head of Thessaloniki police's human trafficking division, said the Somalis each paid 3,000 euros ($4,100) for the trip, while the seated passengers each received 100 euros ($135) to act as vacationers.

Five suspected human smugglers from Greece and Georgia were arrested separately. Authorities are determining if the Somalis should be deported.

Greece is a major entry point for migrants trying to reach the European Union illegally.