Bucharest, 25 April 2024 (GNP): A cross-border operation comprising the Austrian Police (Landeskriminalamt Salzburg), the Italian Carabinieri Corps (Arma dei Carabinieri), and the Romanian Police (Poliţia Română) with assistance from Europol successfully dismantled a criminal network involved in migrant smuggling.
Through the use of illegally obtained work visas, the group enabled illegal immigration into Romania, with further migrations to other EU nations.
Twelve people were arrested in Romania after 29 locations—two in Austria, six in Italy, and 21 in Romania—were searched. Seized items included documents, high-end vehicles, technological devices, and more than EUR 146,000 in cash in several currencies.
The majority of the criminal network was made up of people from Pakistan and Romania. They set up businesses in Romania to get fake work permits, which made it easier for migrants from Bangladesh, Pakistan, and Egypt to enter the country illegally.
Authorities discovered that the network had secured 102 out of 509 work permits out of 509 requests. These visas allowed migrants to enter Romania; 76 of them subsequently relocated to other EU nations. In the course of the inquiry, 26 migrants were found in Austria, Italy, and Romania.
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The network charged between EUR 2,000 and EUR 5,000 for additional travel to other EU countries, and between EUR 5,000 and EUR 6,000 for initial entry into Romania. The group reportedly made at least EUR 1 million in profit.
Important assistance was given by Europol in the form of operational coordination and information sharing for cross-border operations. Europol sent analysts to Romania and Italy on the day of the operation to help with data cross-referencing.
Italy, Romania, and Europol established a joint investigation team (JIT), with Eurojust offering supplementary judicial support.
The Hague-based Europol assists EU member states in combating cybercrime, terrorism, and other serious and organized crime, while also collaborating with international organizations and non-EU partners.
