Saturday, November 21, 2015

Official: 3 Syrians With Fake IDs Detained In St. Maarten



PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten (AP) — Three Syrians traveling with fake Greek passports have been detained in the Dutch Caribbean island of St. Maarten, authorities said Saturday.

The public prosecutor's office said the Syrians were detained Nov. 14 and that the investigation is continuing to determine their identities and how and where they obtained the fake documents. Officials said the three have not asked for asylum, but they do not believe the Syrians are tied to any terrorist groups.

Spokesman Norman Serphos told The Associated Press that the three men came on an Insel Air flight from Haiti. No further details were available. Prosecutors said they have shared the information with Interpol and other international law enforcement agencies including U.S. authorities.

Officials said the three Syrians had traveled from Europe then stopped in Brazil, the Dominican Republic and Haiti before entering St. Maarten. It is unclear where they were headed.

Authorities said similar routes have been used by other Syrians arrested in neighboring countries.

Earlier this week, authorities detained one Syrian woman in Costa Rica and five others in Honduras, including four who are apparently students. Authorities said all were carrying falsified documents.

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