Europol Operation Leads to Arrest of 15 Migrant Smugglers

Europol has announced the successful arrest of 15 migrant smugglers in a multi-stage operation conducted in Belgium and Germany. The criminal network allegedly facilitated the illegal entry of up to 300 non-EU nationals into the EU. The operation, coordinated by Europol, resulted in the arrest of seven suspected members of an internationally operating smuggling network, with one person arrested in Germany and six in Belgium.

The investigation began in Germany with a routine immigration check in September 2024, leading to the discovery of irregularities in a driver’s documentation. Further investigations revealed evidence that the driver may have already smuggled three non-EU nationals into the country on the same day, indicating involvement in a larger smuggling network responsible for facilitating the illegal entry of hundreds of individuals to Germany and other EU Member States between 2022 and 2024.

Most of the suspected gang members were found to be residing in Belgium, acting as intermediaries between the network’s members in Germany and Poland. The Polish part of the network, involved in the smuggling of migrants from Middle Eastern countries to the EU, also engaged in drug production and trafficking, with connections to the Polish football hooligan scene.

Europol, along with Eurojust, supported the operation from planning to execution, facilitating cross-border cooperation and information exchange between participating countries. Agencies from Austria, Belgium, Germany, and Poland collaborated in the operation, which is part of the European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) aimed at combating organized crime affecting the EU.