Syrian migrant smugglers arrested in coordinated strike in Germany and Serbia
A coordinated operation in Germany and Serbia has targeted two Syrian migrant-smuggling networks accused of helping more than 900 migrants enter the European Union. Three high-value suspects were arrested during the international crackdown.
The operation took place on August 5 under an Operational Taskforce coordinated by Europol. German and Serbian authorities worked together following several years of investigations led by the German Federal Police and prosecutors in Bavaria.
Investigators identified two interconnected criminal networks operating along the Central Mediterranean and Western Balkan routes. Authorities said the groups allegedly organised dangerous journeys while making substantial profits from migrants seeking to reach Germany and other parts of Western Europe.
One network allegedly arranged sea crossings from Libya to the Italian island of Lampedusa using overcrowded and unsafe boats. Investigators said some vessels carried as many as 61 migrants without life jackets or other basic safety equipment. Migrants, mainly Syrians, reportedly paid between €6,500 and €7,800 per journey.
Authorities estimate that this network generated at least €875,000 in illegal profits. Investigators also repeatedly found one suspect in possession of suspected counterfeit euro banknotes worth between €30,000 and €100,000.
The second network operated from Serbia, allegedly organising journeys through the Western Balkans toward Germany and other Western European countries. Migrants were reportedly transported from Serbia through Hungary and from Bosnia and Herzegovina through Croatia, with smugglers allegedly charging between €2,000 and €10,000 per person.
Three senior suspects were arrested. One, a 26-year-old Syrian national detained in Saarbrücken, Germany, is suspected of organising at least 125 migrants' journeys across five separate smuggling operations since October 2024. Two other high-value targets were arrested in Serbia.
German authorities also carried out six searches in the Saarbrücken area and seized extensive evidence. Investigators are now examining the material as they continue efforts to uncover the full structure and international reach of the suspected smuggling networks.