Scores of Pakistanis picked up off Sicily

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Rome, July 15 (IANS/AKI) A Georgian and a Latvian accused of trafficking people were arrested after Italian Police intercepted their yacht off Sicily and 69 Pakistanis travelling aboard the boat were handed over to authorities.

An Italian police vessel intercepted the Turkish-flagged 14-metre yacht some two miles off the eastern coastal city of Siracusa and found the Pakistanis stowed away below deck, an officer said.

The yacht was escorted by the Italian police boat to the nearby port of Augusta, where the migrants were handed over to authorities. They said they had set sail five days ago from Istanbul.

--IANS/AKI
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