Turkish Smugglers offer 'all-inclusive' packages to 'refugees' who want to get to Europe and Canada

Turkish Smugglers offer 'all-inclusive' packages to 'refugees' who want to get to Europe and Canada. (CBC).

Turkish print journalist Sefik Dinç recently posed as a refugee here to find out more about the nuts and bolts of those deals.

"The easiest part was actually getting a passport," he tells me at his employer's office in Istanbul's Taksim district.

The price started at 1,000 euros ($1,350 Cdn). Dinç said he couldn't afford that. The smuggler lowered it to 500 euros. An easier bargain to get, he says, because he was asking for a blank passport, with no exit stamps.

The forged credentials made Dinç a citizen of Finland "within two days." The simplicity of that step can be deceptive.

Like Lezieh, the majority of Syrian refugees are looking to land in European Union countries. Many have friends, family or contacts there and they believe stability and job opportunities will await them there that will guarantee them a better life.

For those reasons and based on his research, Dinç says Germany is at the top of many refugee wish lists. Scandinavian countries are a close second — their social assistance programs are a big draw, Dinç says.

Where does Canada factor in? How much would it cost?

"Compared to Europe, Canada is lower on the list. But there are still people who want to go to Canada," Dinç says the smuggler told him.

The complete, all-inclusive package from a fake passport and other documents for a flight to Canada — $15,000.

It is an expensive risk, and even with the chance of being caught, airline travel is seen as the safest option.

Those who can't afford multiple plane tickets for their families choose to make the now infamous ferry crossing to Europe. Read the full story here.