THE HAGUE: German police with an assistance of French and Belgian authorities have busted one of the largest migrant smuggling networks carrying out activities in the Channel, Europol said on Thursday.
It said that during the international operation 19 suspects were arrested.
Europe’s policing agency in a statement said that the probe focused on an Iraqi-Kurdish network suspected of human trafficking from Middle-Eastern and East African regions to France and the UK by using small inflatable boats.
Police in Germany on Wednesday raided 19 homes and nine storage facilities. During the operation they seized 12 inflatable boats, 81 flotation devices for children, 179 life vests, 60 air pumps, 10 engines, and almost 60 electronic devices with weapons and cash.
The Hague-based Europol said an investigation into the gang’s activities launched in late 2022, identifying their structure and operations made up of Iraqi and Syrian nationals of Kurdish origin.
It added that the suspects, all stationed in Germany, organized the purchase, storage and transportation of small low-quality inflatable boats to smuggle migrants from the beaches near the French city of Calais toward the UK.
It said boats, were not suitable nor safe for the transportation of more than 10 individual because of their low quality, however, they often carried as many as 50 people.
Europol said further stated that in total, the investigators have collected evidence linking at least 55 departures that were facilitated by the network while charging between 1,000 and 3,000 euros per migrant.
