Police have uncovered an immigrant smuggling operation which used travel agencies to allow hundreds of illegal immigrants from the Balkans to enter Italy.
Three travel agencies working out of Kosovo are suspected of organising bus tours to Italy for Kosovar and Albanian immigrants who were given false tourist visa. The operation apparently began because of the crackdown on running immigrants across the Adriatic by boat.
A total of 12 warrants have been issued so far by prosecutors here, these included eight arrest warrants, three house arrest order and one order not to leave town. The warrants were issued against 11 Kosovars and Albanians and an Italian police inspector at the office for foreigners in Treviso.
Another thirteen people, an Italian and 12 Kosovars, were notified that they were under investigation and may face charges.
