Nato aids crackdown on people smugglers

Nato ships are on their way to the Aegean Sea to help Turkey and Greece crack down on criminal networks smuggling refugees into Europe, the alliance’s top commander said.

Hours after Nato defence ministers agreed to use their maritime force in the eastern Mediterranean to help combat traffickers, said Supreme Allied Commander General Philip Breedlove he was working quickly to design the mission.

“We are sailing the ships in the appropriate direction,” Gen Breedlove told a news conference, and the mission plan would be refined during the time they were en route.