Major raid against people smugglers in two federal states
The Federal Police have arrested two suspects in a major raid against people smuggling in the greater Hanover area and in Berlin. An EU arrest warrant was executed, said a spokeswoman for the Federal Police on Thursday. The raid involving around 260 officers began in the early morning, with Celle, Garbsen, Hemmingen, Lehrte and Neustadt am Rübenberge being affected at the same time as Hanover and Berlin. Investigators are reportedly targeting a group of Iraqi perpetrators who bring people to Germany via the so-called Balkan route in vans.
According to the spokeswoman, numerous pieces of evidence were confiscated. The operation is still ongoing and the evaluation of the evidence will also take some time.
The arrested suspects are accused of playing a role in the crime of people smuggling, as they bring individuals to Germany via the Balkan route. This illicit activity contributes to the ongoing migration issue in Europe.
Source: www.dpa.com
