Police have issued an international arrest warrant for a Syrian man believed to be the mastermind of the operation to smuggle to Italy some 340 people who had to be rescued off the coast of Cyprus last week, as they detained five more men suspected of being part of the operation.
So far, police have arrested nine suspects.
All suspects were among 345 men, women, and children crammed on a fishing trawler that put out a distress signal when it run into rough seas some 50 nautical miles off the coast of Paphos.
The boat had sailed from Syria and was headed to Italy.
A police spokesman said an international arrest warrant had been issued for the head of the operation who is believed to be in Syria.
Refugees said they paid as much as $6,000 per head for the trip.
They have since been taken to a camp in Kokkinotrimithia but it appears that most want to go to other EU countries like Sweden and Holland.
Reports said only a handful have expressed the intention of applying for asylum in Cyprus.
Cyprus Mail
