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Police in St. Petersburg Bust Migrant Smuggling Route to Europe

© Sputnik / Alexei Danichev / Go to the mediabankSt Petersburg Police Department's "Granit" SWAT unit drill
St Petersburg Police Department's Granit SWAT unit drill - Sputnik International
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Police in the northwestern Russian city of St. Petersburg have busted a gang smuggling migrants from the Middle East, including Syria, to Europe, the Federal Migration Service (FMS) said Wednesday.

Refugees stand in front of residential containers at the arrival centre for refugees near the town on Kirkenes, northern Norway, close to the Russian - Norwegian border on November 12, 2015 - Sputnik International
Several Hundred Migrants Awaiting Deportation from Norway to Russia
ST. PETERSBURG (Sputnik) FMS said six Russian companies were discovered to have been issuing invitations "not only [to] Syrian citizens but also [to] other nationals" for them to come to Russia. The agency said it was aware of dozens of migrants trafficked this way to Europe, although this number could be higher.

"A criminal case over illegal immigration has been opened against companies that were inviting [migrants] without actually planning to keep in contact with them," an FMS spokesperson said.

The migrant smuggling ring is believed to have been in operation for 2-3 years. Over that period, each firm helped obtain immigration papers for 300-400 foreigners, some of whom subsequently traveled to the European Union.

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