Federal Agency BKA records around 8000 intrusions in the year 2023.
The German Criminal Police Office (BKA) has disclosed statistics on migrants illegally brought into Germany. The numbers reveal an upward trend, with approximately 7,920 instances recorded throughout the year, marking an escalation of over 60% compared to the preceding year. During the same timeframe, the number of potential offenders climbed by around a quarter to 4,404 individuals. A majority of these individuals under investigation for smuggling were citizens of Syria, Germany, Turkey, and Ukraine.
The BKA noted its concern over the growing practice of transferring individuals in hazardous containers. Small vans, which can be rented easily and do not need a specialized license, were frequently used for this purpose. These journeys put passengers and other road users at risk, as they posed potential threats of asphyxia, dehydration, hypothermia, and injuries in collisions. The frequency of people found in the loading area of these small vans in Germany nearly doubled in comparison to the 2022-2023 fiscal year-on-year analysis, according to the Federal Crime Report on Human Smuggling.
Escape strategies following smuggling attempts
Smuggling operations grew progressively bolder and more dangerous, endangering both the individuals they transported, third parties, and law enforcement officers, to evade detection, as stated by the BKA. More than 200 escape attempts were reported in Germany in 2023, with incidents of accidents occurring in nearly one-quarter of the cases.
The BKA also reported that in the previous year, police statistics listed 266,224 suspects accused of illegal entry and residency. Around 39,700 individuals were deemed "suspicious of smuggling into Germany," indicating a growth of around a third (33.4%) compared to the year prior. The primary countries of origin among the suspects were Syria, Turkey, and Afghanistan.
The number of illegal border crossings by migrants at the German border declined by 7 percent in the first half of 2024 compared to the preceding year, as announced by the Federal Police towards the end of July. Federal Minister of the Interior Nancy Faeser ordered fixed border controls at Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland in mid-October last year and extended them multiple times since. Though the six-month statistics provide some insight, they do not offer a complete picture of the overall trend for the year.
Smugglers utilize alternative pathways
In 2023, the BKA observed shifts in smuggling routes. The number of border crossings through the central Mediterranean route to Italy and the eastern Mediterranean route to Greece increased, while border crossings on the Western Balkan route and the Eastern route decreased. However, every second migrant smuggled into the country (41.9%) entered via Poland, approximately one-third entered from Austria (29.4%), and about one-fifth entered from the Czech Republic (22.5%). The smugglers predominantly transported refugees on foot (37.1%), in small vans (25.6%), or in cars (24.3%). Many individuals halted on foot likely had been transported near the border by car or van earlier, as mentioned by the BKA.
For communication purposes, smuggling criminals predominantly relied on messaging services like Telegram and WhatsApp, as stated by the BKA. They also leveraged social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to advertise their services through short videos promoting smuggling into Germany. They also enlisted drivers through these platforms.
Wagenknecht: No EU Country as Attractive as Germany
BSW Chairwoman Sahra Wagenknecht accused the federal government of the rising number of smuggled migrants. She claimed, "Germany offers significant financial incentives and few deportations, even when asylum applications are rejected, making it the most attractive country in the EU for uncontrolled migration.
Wagenknecht criticized the coalition for generating a persistent, difficult-to-resolve issue by permitting illegal immigration. "This unfortunate legacy of the 'traffic light' coalition will persist, even if it collapses tomorrow," she said.
As an illustration, the Bundestag member praised Denmark, where a social democratic government upholds a strict migration policy. "Germany must finally send a message to the world that the loss of control is over, like Denmark has done," said Wagenknecht. "Those without protected status cannot anticipate financial support - except for their departure."
- The BKA reported an increase in the use of small vans with other vehicles for smuggling, many of which have a circular cross-section due to their design, which poses risks to passengers and other road users.
- During the investigations into smuggling activities, the BKA often found individuals being transported in dangerous containers of various shapes and sizes, including some of circular cross-section.
