Greek police save 54 migrants squashed into unventilated van
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Police in northern Greece have rescued 54 migrants found squashed into a van, and arrested two Bulgarian alleged members of a smuggling ring paid to carry them through the country.
A police statement says the van was stopped Wednesday on a road in the northeastern Rodopi province.
It said the 52 Syrian and 2 Somali nationals — including 13 minors — were crammed into the 4-by-2.5-meter (13-by-8-foot) back of the van, which lacked ventilation and was locked from the outside.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}The two Bulgarians, aged 36 and 38, were charged with illegally transporting migrants and endangering lives.
Police said Thursday that each of the adults had paid 1,500 euros ($1,700) to be taken from Greece's land border with Turkey, which they had crossed illegally, to the northern city of Thessaloniki.