Crackdown on Balkan Migrant Smugglers

In a significant blow to migrant smuggling operations across the Balkan route, Serbian and Bulgarian law enforcement agencies, under the coordination of Europol, have dismantled an extensive criminal network involved in smuggling migrants. On July 16, 2026, Serbian authorities conducted raids at five locations, leading to the arrest of five individuals, including two police officers and a high-value target.

The criminal network, active since 2025, facilitated the illegal movement of large groups, predominantly Afghan nationals, from Türkiye through Bulgaria and Serbia into Western Europe. Migrants were transported to the Bulgarian-Serbian green border, where they crossed on their own to pre-arranged GPS coordinates and were then picked up by the network. The smugglers charged approximately EUR 1,300 per person for passage across Serbia.

Europol’s Operational Taskforce played a crucial role by organizing multiple operational meetings and coordinating the exchange of operational data among the involved parties. The agency also provided financial support for four Bulgarian investigators to assist in Serbia and deployed an expert to conduct real-time cross-checks against Europol databases during the operation.

This operation is a part of ongoing efforts by Europol to combat migrant smuggling, a significant criminal threat in the EU. Enhanced cooperation and new regulations, including the establishment of the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS) in March 2026, underscore the EU’s commitment to tackling this pervasive issue through a comprehensive, data-driven approach.