Category: Migrant smuggling

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EuroMed Justice Project joins partners to strengthen regional efforts to combat human trafficking and migrant smuggling

Source: Eurojust

The 5-day course enhanced law enforcement’s and judicial authorities technical capacities in addressing transnational organized human trafficking and migrant smuggling crimes by adapting current and state-of-the-art investigation techniques and practices. It was organised under the framework of the Action Plan A: Countering the trafficking in human beings and smuggling of migrants within the cross-Mediterranean region.

Using various innovative and interactive training strategies, more than 50 human trafficking and migrant smuggling investigators, border security officers, prosecutors, and members of the judiciary from eight MENA countries were trained on addressing several cutting-edge topics relevant to the trafficking of persons and migrant smuggling crimes. It included identifying indicators and new criminal patterns and leading proactive investigations in the absence of victim cooperation, as well as prosecuting traffickers and smugglers successfully within a human rights framework.

Additionally, the training adopted a victim-centric approach, which provided participants with up-to-date practices for managing victims throughout the investigation and prosecution process. During that module, participants benefited from Eurojust’s experience via the participation of a representative of the Eurojust Victims’ Rights Working Group. The training also highlighted effective impact gender-sensitive policies could have on the success of the investigation process, especially in these types of crimes.

Lastly, the participants were introduced to new crime patterns and the challenges of the use of advanced technology like artificial intelligence in committing the crime and responding to it.

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Migrant smuggling operation taken down by Romanian and Moldovan authorities

Source: Eurojust

A migrant smuggling operation has been dismantled by Romanian and Moldovan authorities, with the support of Eurojust. From 2019 until now, an organised crime group (OCG) smuggled over 100 migrants to the Schengen Area, demanding up to EUR 5 000 for the transport. On 27 May, authorities searched 11 houses and carried out multiple interrogations in Romania, and on 16 May another eight searches were conducted in Moldova, followed by the arrest of four drivers and their leader.

© – Romanian Police

The OCG smuggled migrants from Asia or Africa for sums ranging from EUR 3 000 to EUR 5 000. The migrants were smuggled in special spaces created to disguise the transport. The suspects used multiple routes for the smuggling, passing through Austria, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Hungary, Macedonia, Romania, Serbia and Türkiye. As part of their operation, the OCG recruited victims from countries that did not require a visa to travel to the European Union to transport the migrants undetected.

With the support of Eurojust, the Romanian and Moldovan authorities set up a joint investigation team (JIT) to expose the OCG. The suspects include over 20 Romanian and Moldovan citizens. In April, multiple house searches, interrogations and asset seizures were carried out in Moldova. Currently, four drivers from Moldova and their organiser have been officially charged with organising illegal immigration.

The JIT resulted in action days on 16 May in Moldova and on 27 May in Romania. Authorities were able to conduct 19 house searches and perform multiple interrogations of suspects. Of the five members of the OCG from Moldova, two have made a full confession. Eurojust facilitated cooperation between the Romanian and Moldovan authorities. Eurojust’s assistance in setting up a JIT ensured that the Romanian and Moldovan authorities were able to cooperate faster and more efficiently during the investigation.

The following authorities were involved in the operation:

Romania:

  • Directorate for Investigating Organized Crime and Terrorism – Galați Territorial Service
  • Bureau for Combating Organized Crime Galați
  • Service for Combating Organized Crime Dâmbovița
  • Special Operations Directorate of the Romanian Police

Moldova:

  • Prosecutor’s Office for Combating Organized Crimes and Special Cases
  • National Investigative Inspectorate of the General Police Inspectorate
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Assistance in dismantling Pakistani-led migrant smuggling network in Romania, Italy and Austria

Source: Eurojust

Authorities in Romania, Italy and Austria have dismantled a criminal network that abused work visas to smuggle over 500 Pakistani, Bengali and Egyptian migrants to various EU Member States. In total, 12 suspects have been formally identified and will be charged during an action day with the active support by Eurojust and Europol. Eurojust also assisted in setting up and financing a joint investigation team (JIT) into the case.

The migrant smuggling network advertised its services online, but members of the organised crime group (OCG) based in Pakistan also recruited migrants locally. The criminal network started its activities in January 2021 and operated until recently. In the EU, the OCG operated from Romania, Italy and Austria and is estimated to have earned at least EUR 1 million with their illegal activities.

© DIICOT and Politia Romana

The smugglers obtained Romanian work visas for the migrants through a series of linked companies set up for this purpose, and placed them in Bucharest and Brasov. From there they were transported to the border area near Timisoara, from where they were further trafficked to Italy, Austria and Germany. These onward journeys were either by guided passage on foot across the border or in lorries.

Investigations were launched in Romania in August of last year and identified 15 suspects and 5 enterprises set up for the smuggling activities. During the action day, a total of 29 places have been searched and an estimated value of EUR 146,000 in cash was seized.

Eurojust not only assisted in setting up the JIT between Romania, Italy and Europol, but also provided additional cross-border judicial support during the action. Europol provided elaborate analytical support and operational cooperation and facilitated the exchange of information.

The operation on the ground was carried out at the request of and by the following authorities:

  • Romania: Directorate for Investigation of Organised Crime and Terrorism (DIICOT) – Brasov Territorial Structure; Brasov Bureau for Combatting Organised Crime
  • Austria: Public Prosecution Office Salzburg; State Criminal Police Office Salzburg
  • Italy: Public Prosecution Office of Udine; Carabinieri, Special Operational Group of Udine Anti-Crime Unit