Five arrested in Germany for smuggling Vietnamese

The five suspected traffickers include four Vietnamese and a German, said Europol spokesman Soren Pedersen.

THE HAGUE, February 11, 2010 (AFP) - Police arrested on Wednesday five people in Germany suspected of being part of a ring smuggling Vietnamese immigrants to western Europe, European police agency Europol said.

German police also discovered nine illegal Vietnamese immigrants during searches in Berlin and the states of Brandenburg and Sachsen in which they seized 55,000 euros (nearly 76,000 dollars) in cash, several computers, a weapon and cocaine, Europol said.

The five suspected traffickers include four Vietnamese and a German, said Europol spokesman Soren Pedersen.

Families of the Vietnamese were often forced to sell their homes and other property to come up with the 10,000-euro smuggling fee -- in return for "guarantees" the immigrants would reach their final destinations, usually Britain or France, Europol said in a statement.

The Vietnamese arrived in Russia or the Czech Republic by plane, before continuing onward by car to Berlin, where they were given temporary refuge.

"In some cases the immigrants were required to sell illegal cigarettes to finance their onward journey to western Europe," the agency said.

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