Six alleged members of an international gang of people traffickers went on trial in the German city of Darmstadt on Wednesday, dpa reported. The six men are accused of helping mostly Iraqi and Iranian nationals to travel from Italy to Germany and Scandinavia between February and April 2010. At least 17 people, including two children, were transported in hired cars, state prosecutors said. The men, aged between 28 and 45, allegedly charged hundreds of euros per passenger. Prosecutors allege that they pocketed more than 2,200 euros (3,200 dollars) to drive six Iraqis through Austria to Germany. The refugees are thought to have arrived in Italy independently, by boat or lorry. The accused, who allegedly drove for up to 50 hours without a break, were caught at police checkpoints. Two of the defendants, both accused of being accomplices, admitted to the charges against them and identified the main defendant as the mastermind of the trafficking group. -- SPA
