North Macedonia police find 86 migrants crammed into truck
Authorities have found 86 migrants, including children, in a truck with an attached trailer in the southern part of North Macedonia.
Police have arrested the 44-year-old truck driver. He has been identified only by his initials as D.M.
It is believed the migrants from Pakistan, Syria and India entered illegally from Greece and were headed to Serbia and onto wealthier European countries. They were found late Saturday during a routine inspection near the border town of Gevgelija.
Police say the migrants have been transferred to a reception in Gevgelija, pending deportation to Greece.
The truck driver, if convicted of smuggling, faces up to five years in prison.
Since the relaxing of the Covid restrictions, more migrants are attempting to use the Balkan route into Europe.