Prison occupancy rate rises to nearly 140% in Slovenia

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia

The occupancy rate in Slovenian prisons has climbed to nearly 140% due to human traffickers smuggling irregular migrants into the country with the promise of passage to further into Europe, according to local media.

The Slovenian Prison Administration announced that as of Feb. 26, there were 1,808 inmates languishing in the country's prisons, with the average occupancy rate rising to 139%.

According to the announcement, only 550 staff are currently serving in the overcrowded facilities.

In the capital Ljubljana, the occupancy rate in the city's prison is over 200%.

Across the country, 850 foreign nationals are jailed on charges of human trafficking.

* Writing by Zeynep Cetin in Istanbul