International human trafficking ring investigated by Styrian investigators

The group of perpetrators is said to have brought more than 500 people across the border into Austria or further into Germany and thus made at least 900,000 euros, according to a statement from the Styrian State Police Directorate on Monday. 17 suspects are in custody, ten of them will appear in court in Graz on Wednesday.

• Also read: Smuggler put several people in danger of their lives during a daring escape (OÖNplus)

Internationally operating network

In August of the previous year, Styrian investigators uncovered several smuggling trips in southern and eastern Styria. The police pursued the car for around 60 kilometers along the southern motorway (A2). Investigations as a result of the arrests ultimately led to an internationally operating network: “The organization, which consists of at least 17 suspects and is aimed at maximum profit, is suspected of carrying out a total of 26 smuggling trips from Hungary to Austria and in some cases further in the period from June to October 2023 alone “To have organized Germany,” it said in the broadcast.

“The most adverse circumstances, sometimes life-threatening conditions”

Around 500 people were “illegally brought across the borders in small vans under the most adverse circumstances and sometimes under life-threatening conditions.” At the beginning of October, the investigations had reached a preliminary climax: Police officers arrested five more suspects in the Oberwart district in southern Burgenland during a special operation by the Ilz immigration police: “They are members of the middle and highest management levels. Officers also provided two high-priced escort vehicles safe with this action.” In addition to local police patrols, the Federal Criminal Police Office (BK) and observation teams, special forces from the Cobra task force and two police helicopters were also involved.

Support vehicles scouted out border crossings and routes

As the investigations showed, the Arab group of perpetrators acted professionally: escort vehicles drove ahead and scouted out the border crossings and routes. The vans with the refugees followed behind. Communication took place via WhatsApp. The arrested suspects are a group of mostly Arab perpetrators and this time the investigators also caught a few larger fish from higher hierarchical levels, according to the police.

• From the archive: Smugglers are keeping the police and judiciary in the Innviertel more busy again (OÖNplus)

While the trial against ten lower-level defendants – primarily male and female drivers, including a German – begins on Wednesday in Graz, those behind the crime will have to answer in Vienna. In addition, further investigations are being conducted by the public prosecutor’s offices in Graz and Vienna.

“Fight against smuggling mafia on several levels”

After the success of the investigation, Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) emphasized Austria’s leading role in the “Western Balkan Task Force” and the importance of international cooperation, which repeatedly leads to arrests abroad. The fight against the smuggling mafia is being waged on several levels. On the one hand, through national and international border point and border area control. There are currently around 170 police officers from Austria on duty in Hungary and various states in the Western Balkans. On the other hand, also through cross-border structural investigations. Austria has taken a leading role through the coordination office in Vienna.

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