Eurojust and Europol support major
operation against illegal immigrant smuggling
Today, a major operation against an
organised criminal group (OCG) involved in a widespread illegal immigrant
smuggling network has successfully been concluded. Sixteen arrests have been
made and others are ongoing. A large amount of assets, money and other goods
were seized.
Led by the Italian authorities, the
case concentrated on a criminal syndicate composed of Syrian, Algerian,
Egyptian, Lebanese and Tunisian suspects, who were involved in the illicit
smuggling of migrants, mostly of Syrian origin, into the European Union.
According to the evidence gathered
so far, between 2014 and 2016, the criminal network was able to transport more
than 200 migrants into and within the European Union who, by following the
Balkan Route, initially reached Hungary and Italy before moving to Austria,
Germany and France.
Logistical support was offered to
the migrants along the entire route. Italy played an important role, as the
members of the OCG used this country to recruit the drivers, so called
‘passeurs’, and to provide them with ad hoc vehicles.
The migrants were supposed to pay
the OCG approximately 500 EUR per transport, thereby generating a large amount
of illicitly gained revenue within the OCG.
The Mobile Squad of Como, together
with the Central Operational Services (SCO) of the Italian State Police, under
the leadership of the Public Prosecution Office of Como, started the
investigation in September 2015 when an Italian citizen was arrested in Hungary
while driving a vehicle with several illegal migrants. The case developed
further with similar arrests by the Austrian and German authorities of other
drivers of vehicles used to transport illegal migrants.
In December 2015, Italian Letters of
Request were sent to the Austrian and German authorities, while the assistance
of Eurojust was required to facilitate the execution of these Letters of
Request and possibly to coordinate relevant activities.
A first coordination meeting was
held at Eurojust on 16 February 2016 to gather the countries most affected by
the criminal activities and to discuss the way forward. The participation of
Europol was also granted to ensure international police assistance and
analytical support.
Parallel investigations activated
abroad allowed for the interception of several migrant transports and the
arrest of the relevant ‘passeurs’, some of whom were the registered (straw)
owners of 80 to 90 Italian vehicles used to carry out the illicit activities.
The information received by Italy
from the involved Member States allowed for the subsequent investigative
measures and the development of the case, supported by Eurojust, Europol and
the National Anti-mafia and Anti-terrorism Directorate.
Eurojust played a pivotal role in
today’s success by facilitating the exchange of information and Letters of Request,
liaising with counterparts to solve upcoming issues with the potential to
hamper the investigative progresses, organising a coordination meeting in The
Hague and consistently ensuring judicial coordination throughout the entire
process.
Europol and its European Migrant
Smuggling Centre (EMSC) supported the investigation by providing tailored
Analysis Reports and deployed two specialists in Italy for this action day,
equipped with the Europol mobile office for a real-time cross-check of data
against Europol's databases. The International Police Cooperation Service
(SCIP) of the Italian Ministry of Interior also played a pivotal role in the
coordination of this important investigation.
The operation demonstrated the
capacity of the relevant authorities to work together and to clearly identify
the OCG, identify the main affected countries, identify the registered owners
of the vehicles used for the smuggling activities as well as the recruiters and
transporters, and ultimately dismantle the entire criminal network involved in
this illicit activity in a coordinated and synchronised fashion.
At the conclusion of the successful
action day, the National Member for Italy at Eurojust made the following
statement:
‘I am grateful to the involved Eurojust Desks (Austria, Germany)
and to Europol for their excellent cooperation in the case, which demonstrates
that by a coordination of efforts at EU level, we can efficiently assist our
national judicial authorities and provide them with crucial support to
dismantle criminal networks that profit from the exploitation of the migratory
needs of thousands of people in serious distress’.
For questions relating to the involvement of Member States, please
contact the relevant national authorities.
For interviews and further information,
please contact:
EUROJUST
Ulf Bergström
Head of Communications and External Relations
Tel: +31 70 412 5508
E-mail: media@eurojust.europa.eu
Ulf Bergström
Head of Communications and External Relations
Tel: +31 70 412 5508
E-mail: media@eurojust.europa.eu
EUROPOL
Corporate Communications
P.O. Box 908 50
2509 LW The Hague
The Netherlands
Corporate Communications
P.O. Box 908 50
2509 LW The Hague
The Netherlands
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