SLO POLICE ARREST SEVERAL CROATS SUSPECTED OF PEOPLE SMUGGLING

ZAGREB, Nov 28 (Hina) - Apart from Josip Loncaric, the Slovene police during Monday's operation arrested several more Croatian citiztens, spokesman of the Slovene Interior Ministry Miran Koren told Hina Tuesday. Koren did not say how many Croatian citizens were arrested, but he stressed, however, the investigation was still in process. The Slovene police on Monday arrested about 30 persons accross Slovenia, includidng Josip Loncaric, Koren said. He added Loncaric was arrested in the Ljubljana region after a several months search. All of the arrested persosn are suspected of the illegal smuggling of people accross state borders and are under police costudy, Koren said. After 48 hours, the suspects will be brought before authorised investigation judges who are to decide wheter an investigation would be conducted and whether a custody would be set. Two and a half years ago, Loncaric, who has both Croatian and Slovene citizenship, was sentenced to seven months in prison in Croatia for illegal smuggling of eight Egyptians from Hungary to Croatia. Loncaric is also wanted in Italy for illegal smuggling of several thousands of Chinese citizens. The Trieste Court has sentenced Loncaric to six years in prison for organising a chain of illegal migrations. He has been speculated of earning about DM100 million in this illegal business. (hina) it jn