The Hague, 14 November 2025
On 13 November 2025, the German Federal Police, in close cooperation with French border police and with the support of Europol and Eurojust, have dismantled a criminal network believed to have smuggled nearly 900 people into Europe between 2021 and 2023.
The action day led to the following results:
- 6 arrests (2 in Germany and 4 in France)
- 11 property searches (4 in Germany and 7 in France)
- Seizure of firearms, electronic devices and cash
- Freezing of bank accounts
The network is suspected of facilitating migration on an ongoing basis from Türkiye via Serbia, Austria, Germany and France. Investigators believe that the criminal organisation earned more than EUR 4 million through these illicit activities. Irregular migrants were transported in disregard for their safety, with smugglers using dangerous concealment methods and engaging in reckless driving to ensure escape and avoid detection.
Lives at risk
The criminal network had a hierarchical structure, with specific roles assigned to the members, to ensure the success of the illicit activities. Investigators believe that the gang had hired more than 20 drivers to carry out the transfers. It is also a plausible suspicion that these suspects are linked to a smuggling incident that resulted in the death of a migrant on 13 July 2023 in Germany.
That day, a driver caused an accident while smuggling people into Europe. When the police ordered him to stop the bus, he tried to escape. One woman, a migrant, died in the accident, and several others were seriously injured. The driver was convicted of murder. The criminal network under investigation is suspected of having taken the woman back to Serbia by car, the country from which she had begun her journey to Germany.
The joint operation on 13 November 2025 was the result of months of coordinated intelligence-sharing and investigative work. Europol supported the national authorities by facilitating the coordination among the affected countries and the exchange of operational information, and by delivering operational analysis reports. Additionally, on the day of the operation, a specialist was deployed to Germany with a mobile office to deliver on-the-spot support to investigators.
A priority for Europol
Europol’s contribution to this case serves as an example of how migrant smuggling remains a priority for Europol. The crime is increasingly marked by violence and brutality, leading to significant loss of life and occasionally targeting rival criminals, law enforcement, and the migrants themselves.
In addition, migrant smuggling continues to be an attractive and highly profitable criminal activity on a large scale. It does not only involve facilitating the movement of irregular migrants but also assisting them in fraudulently regularising their stay.
The following authorities participated in the investigation:
- Germany: Federal Police Office for Crime Control (Bundespolizeiinspektion Kriminalitätsbekämpfung Halle)
- France: National Directorate of the Border Police (Direction Nationale de la Police aux Frontières, OLTIM)
Empact
The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU. EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners. EMPACT runs in four-year cycles focusing on common EU crime priorities.
Source – Europol
Eurojust: Smuggling network moving nearly 900 migrants dismantled
The Hague, 14 November 2025
German and French authorities worked closely together with Eurojust and Europol to arrest five members of an international migrant smuggling network. They are suspected of smuggling close to 900 migrants into Europe. Investigations into the group revealed that they collected at least EUR 4.1 million in fees and smuggled some of their victims under life-threatening situations.
It is suspected that between June 2021 and October 2023, around 880 people were smuggled from Turkey to Europe via Serbia to Austria, and then Germany and France. To transport their victims, at least 23 drivers were recruited, who are being investigated separately. Investigations into the network also raised suspicions that the group maybe connected to a smuggling incident in Germany that resulted in a death on 13 July 2023.
French and German judicial authorities came together with Eurojust to discuss the findings of their investigations and to plan synchronised actions to stop the network in their tracks. Eurojust ensured that European Investigation Orders were prepared for searches to take place in France at request of the German authorities. Europol supported the national authorities by facilitating the coordination among the affected countries and the exchange of operational information, and by delivering operational analysis reports.
On 13 November, actions took place simultaneously in Germany and France. In France, four suspects were arrested and two apartments and a car dealership were searched. Numerous mobile phones and important information for continuing the investigation was collected as a result of the search. In Germany, one suspect was arrested and four apartments were searched where substantial amounts of cash was seized.
The actions were carried out by the following authorities:
- Germany: Public Prosecutor’s Office Dresden, Branch Office Pirna & Federal Police, Regional Headquarter Pirna
- France: JUNALCO Interregional Jurisdiction against Organised Crime-Court of Paris; GPPO Court of Appeal Paris; CPPO Court of Appeal Rennes; GPPO Court of Appeal Colmar; OLTIM (Office for the Fight against Illicit Trafficking of Migrants)
Source – Eurojust