The Finnish Coast Guard is investigating a criminal network which is believed to have brought 150 people into the country illegally, a spokesman from the Coast Guard said Friday.
Investigators believed the 150 people were brought to Finland from the Mediterranean area last year. The route was via Austria, Denmark and Sweden.
The final leg was either through the northern land route to Tornio, northern Finland, or via vessels across the Baltic Sea. Some arrived on scheduled commercial flights.
Three suspects have been detained by the Coast Guard. Two were Swedish citizens of Iraqi background and one a Syrian with residence in Austria. The Coast Guard said the suspects received big financial benefits from human smuggling.
