From midnight there are again checks at the Austrian-Slovak border. The Ministry of the Interior justified the measure with the ongoing problem with people smugglers and the start of border controls between the Czech Republic and Slovakia as a result.
Due to the increased number of people smugglers, the Czech Republic will start checks on Slovakia this Wednesday. Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) then announced on Wednesday to the Ö1 “Journal at eight” that Austria would therefore also introduce checks – from midnight on Thursday, at the Slovakian border crossings.
“React before the smugglers react”
The minister justified the move by saying that it should be used to respond to possible alternative routes of the smugglers: “We have to react before the smugglers react.” He also referred to Ö1 about border controls with Hungary and Slovakia that have been in place for years. First and foremost, so-called tractor units – “these are mostly white vans” – would be checked.
As the ministry informed the APA, Karner had informed his Slovakian counterpart Roman Mikulec of the planned measure on Tuesday.
Fight against smuggling crime
“We have already taken extensive measures at the borders with Hungary and Slovenia. Now the police will also check the border with Slovakia. We have to be faster than the smugglers. The focus remains on fighting organized smuggling crime,” the ministry quoted Karner as saying in a statement.
Source: Krone
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