Police stopped the Afghans in a minivan not far from the Kosovo border yesterday. In addition to the 18, police arrested five Albanians and one Afghan who had arranged the illegal crossing, according to a statement today. Those who were arrested are accused of illegally crossing a border along with criminal organization charges. If convicted, they face up to 15 years in prison.
The 18 migrants were taken to a refugee center, and will most likely be expelled to Greece after being processed. Albania hasn't been a major transit route for migrants through Europe so far.