- The Nidwalden cantonal police freed 23 refugees from Afghanistan, India, Syria and Bangladesh from an overcrowded van in Hergiswil NW on Monday.
- The police arrested a suspected smuggler.
The fugitives were unharmed. A suspected smuggler was arrested. The van with Italian license plates was traveling north on the A2 motorway when it was stopped at 6:30 a.m. as part of a heavy traffic control, the cantonal police said.
Legend:
The van, with Italian license plates, was traveling north on the A2 motorway when it was stopped by police during a traffic stop.
Canton police Nidwalden
The police found the 23 refugees in the hold. These were standing, unsecured and transported in a confined space. They had been driving for several hours without a break in the closed vehicle structure without windows.
Legend:
The police found 23 refugees in the hold. They had been transported standing, unsecured and in a very confined space.
Canton police Nidwalden
The refugees are between 20 and 50 years old. According to statements, they apparently wanted to travel illegally to European countries outside of Switzerland. The driver is a 27-year-old. He was arrested. He is being investigated in cooperation with the Nidwalden public prosecutor’s office on suspicion of human smuggling. The Nidwalden Office for Migration was also included in the investigations.