Gerald Tatzgern, head of the ‘Joint Operational Office’ of the Federal Criminal Police Office, provides insight into the current situation of smuggling crime in Austria in the krone.tv interview.
“In 2023 and 2024, the number of arrested smugglers will be halved. Because Austria is currently heavily bypassed by smugglers,” says Gerald Tatzgern. The Brigadier General added: “Turkey is currently the center of smuggling activities, also due to its proximity to countries such as Syria and Afghanistan. From there, many people are smuggled across the Balkans into Europe and then split from Croatia to Italy and Slovenia to France. Germany is approached in a northern arc. In this way, Austria is bypassed.”
130 police officers from Austria have already been deployed to the Balkans. For example in Serbia and North Macedonia. In Bulgaria, police from Austria also help at the border with Türkiye.
Mafia-like structures of human traffickers?
When asked to what extent there are mafia-like criminal structures in Austria, Tatzgern says: “Throughout Europe, smuggling amounts to hundreds of millions of euros, worldwide it amounts to billions. The main areas of crime are actual human smuggling, but also money transactions, cash transport and cryptocurrencies. But there is also a lot of cash involved: two garbage bags full of banknotes have currently been found in Serbia. Several million euros. This is money that was used to pay smugglers. It was collected, put in plastic bags and should have been taken to Turkey.”
Austria is less important as a destination
However, overall, smuggling activity is declining across Europe. Tatzgern: “In Europe there are a total of approximately 1 million asylum applications every year. This year it is 17 to 18 percent less. In Austria we were now able to reduce the number of applications by a total of 50 percent, thus halving it.”
The change in the social system to pay out only a small amount in cash in favor of benefits in kind would also contribute to this: “Benefits in kind cannot of course be transferred home. The traffickers know this and that is why they drag people to other countries. They act as a kind of travel organization. And Austria has lost its value as a destination,” says Tatzgern.
You can see many other statements, for example about Interior Minister Gerhard Karner, in the video above.
We explain what Austria is currently dealing with: the latest news conversations with politicians and experts.
Source: Krone
I am Ida Scott, a journalist and content author with a passion for uncovering the truth. I have been writing professionally for Today Times Live since 2020 and specialize in political news. My career began when I was just 17; I had already developed a knack for research and an eye for detail which made me stand out from my peers.
