Two brothers reported missing in 2008 for kidnapping their own children were caught in the Netherlands. The child victims were discovered thanks to the joint operation of the FBI, Greek and Dutch police forces.
John and George Saila were caught in Hague in early November. The state of Los Angeles issued national warrant for the arrest of the two brothers in July 2008; a month later was issued a federal warrant as they were convicted of escape to avoid trial against them. The mothers of the children have repeatedly called in media interviews for the return of their children as they thought that their fathers probably led them to their homeland Syria.
FBI agents and detectives from the police in Los Angeles began to seek them abroad as a result of subsequent investigations on national and international level. They were traced in Athens a few months ago. The Greek police conducted a full investigation, which pointed out to Holland.
The fugitives and their three children Greg, Alexander and Zeiven, who today are 12, 14 and 11 years old respectively, were found due to the cooperation between the police forces of Greece and the Netherlands. Then, the authorities in Los Angeles issued a temporary arrest warrant, which allowed the Dutch police to arrest the Saila brothers.
FBI expressed its gratitude to the police of the two European countries in its note. Initially, the children were taken by the Dutch Office for the Protection of Children. The mothers are expected to travel to Hague accompanied by FBI agents and to meet their children again as they haven’t seen them for two years and a half.