Macedonian citizens living in northern Italy were detained in a police investigation over abuse of migrants. The group would bring in seasonal workers from Macedonia to work in the vineyards around Alba, but kept them in poor conditions, restricted their ability to leave the area and severely underpaid them.

Those detained include Borce Georgiev (43), owner of the company organizing the arrival of seasonal laborers, his wife, mother, and three associates. Three Italians and an another Macedonian are suspected as accomplices.

The carabinieri raids were carried out on Saturday. It determined that the laborers were given fake Bulgarian identity papers so they could travel to Italy easier, and had their authentic Macedonian documents taken away by the organizers, so it would be more difficult for them to escape.