A massive Europe-wide raid, involving over 500 officers, targeted an Iraqi-led human smuggling network accused of trafficking migrants into Europe.
The operation, carried out across German cities such as Essen, Gelsenkirchen, and Bochum, as well as in France, saw police storming apartments, warehouses, and an asylum center. Authorities arrested multiple suspects linked to the network, executing over 10 European arrest warrants.
This crackdown comes amid a surge in illegal migration, with 7,924 smuggling cases reported in 2023, marking a 60% increase from the previous year. Smugglers are charging exorbitant fees, sometimes up to €10,000 per person, and in some cases, these operations are even more profitable than drug trafficking. “Smugglers prioritize profit over human lives,” an investigator revealed.
With over 71,000 unauthorized entries detected in Germany this year, authorities are on high alert, particularly as conflicts in the Middle East continue to fuel migration. Heiko Teggatz of the Federal Police Union warned, “Germany cannot withstand another wave like 2015.” Despite previous efforts, new smuggling rings continue to emerge, with investigators pursuing over 4,400 suspects.
