Albanian police have arrested six people after a shootout erupted on the country’s border with Greece.
The group, which includes four Albanians and two Greeks, are suspected of being involved in people-smuggling.
According to police, the group opened fire on officers when they tried to stop a van carrying 15 migrants. No one was injured in the incident.
The group is expected to face charges of illegal immigration and the possession of weapons. The migrants, who are thought to be from Syria and Iraq, have been taken into custody.
The incident, which took place in the early hours of Monday morning, is believed to be one of the first cases of people smuggling in the country.
Albania is a major transit hub for migrants attempting to cross into Europe. Many migrants have chosen to take the riskier route of crossing the borders of Albania and Greece, which are both not part of the Schengen area.
Smugglers often use boats or vans to transport migrants across Albanian and Greek borders, with the help of corrupt border guards and police officers.