Major raid against suspected smuggling gang
Major raid in two federal states: The federal police have arrested two men during searches in Berlin and Lower Saxony on suspicion of organized smuggling.
An arrest warrant was executed against the 23-year-old main suspect from Berlin - the officers found the man in Garbsen near Hanover, said a spokesman for the Hanover public prosecutor's office on Thursday. The 40-year-old second man, for whom an Austrian arrest warrant had been issued, was also caught by investigators in Lehrte near Hanover.
The predominantly Iraqi group of perpetrators are accused of at least twelve smuggling trips between August 2022 and June 2023. During this time, at least 208 people, mainly of Syrian nationality, are said to have been smuggled in. The exact number of people smuggled on three trips is still unclear, the spokesperson said. The operation in Garbsen was initially still ongoing.
The raid with around 260 federal police officers began in the early morning in Berlin and the greater Hanover area. In addition to Berlin and Hanover, the cities of Celle, Garbsen, Hemmingen, Laatzen, Lehrte, Neustadt am Rübenberge and Peine were affected at the same time. A total of 14 properties were searched, 8 of them in Lower Saxony and 6 in Berlin. The perpetrators are accused of smuggling foreigners into the European Union on a commercial and gang basis, said the spokesperson for the prosecution.
The alleged perpetrators are said to have transported the people "consistently in unsuitable vehicles" - on the loading area, without rest or food and in extreme heat and fear, the spokesman said. It is suspected that the suspected smugglers collected 4000 to 5000 euros per person and smuggling trip. The smuggling journeys had led via Hungary to Austria, the Czech Republic and Germany. A spokeswoman for the Federal Police said that similar journeys by vans with people crammed into the hold had already resulted in serious injuries.
According to the spokesperson, extensive evidence was confiscated during the searches. The evaluation of this evidence is expected to continue for the time being. The spokesperson for the public prosecutor's office stated that he could not yet provide any information on what had been confiscated.
The arrest of the suspected smugglers could potentially deter other criminal groups involved in human trafficking, serving as a deterrent against organized crime related to migration. The smuggled individuals, mainly Syrian nationals, often face harsh conditions during their journey, contributing to the ongoing human rights discussions surrounding migration.
Source: www.dpa.com
