Source: Eurojust
Eurojust has supported the German and Dutch authorities in a coordinated action against an organised crime group (OCG) smuggling mainly Syrian migrants to Germany. In a joint operation, five suspects were arrested in Germany, the Netherlands and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
Since 2021, at least 500 migrants have been irregularly transported via the so-called Balkan route. The network itself, however, boasts about much higher numbers of migrants being trafficked and has been advertising these figures on social media. The proceeds from the migrant smuggling are estimated to be at least EUR 1.4 million.
The arrested suspects are all Syrian nationals who arranged the transport of migrants in vehicles over land from Greece to Germany. On average, they asked for a fee of EUR 4 500 per person for the irregular transports. Investigations into the OCG were supported by information obtained via a Eurojust-supported joint investigation team into a similar network, which led to 29 arrests in October and November of last year.
These investigations also enabled contact with the authorities in Bosnia and Herzegovina, where three suspects were taken into custody. Both in Germany and the Netherlands, one suspect was arrested. The OCG members occasionally resorted to severe physical violence and used state-of-the-art communication tools.
During this week’s coordinated action, four places were searched and a wide range of evidence was seized, including smartphones used in the smuggling activities, as well as various vehicles and small quantities of illicit drugs. Eurojust assisted the German and Dutch authorities in preparing for the action day, including organising seven coordination meetings between all the involved authorities.
Today’s actions were carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:
- Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office (PPO) Weiden; Federal Police Inspection Munich (Bundespolizeiinspektion Kriminalitätsbekämpfung)
- The Netherlands: National PPO; Royal Netherlands Marechaussee (Koninklijke Marechaussee)
- Bosnia and Herzegovina: Special Department for Organised Crime – Economic Crime and Corruption Service of the Prosecutor’s Office of Bosnia and Herzegovina; State Investigation and Protection Agency (SIPA)