A large-scale operation by the army and police lured 17 escaped migrants into the Puszta in Siegendorf. The smuggler who was waiting for the refugees with a van after they illegally crossed the border was caught by detectives. The Syrian (30) is stuck.
17 migrants had traveled hundreds of kilometers when they were sent on foot from Hungary across the Siegendorfer Puszta to Burgenland in broad daylight by smugglers. The Iraqis, Egyptians and Syrians – the youngest only 13 years old – had been taken over by a gang of smugglers in Serbia and transported via Hungary to the Austrian border. They marched through the woods in small groups.
smuggled into the country
Around 3 p.m., the first four refugees were spotted by soldiers during the relief operation. Bracelets with numbers were put on the migrants for registration. Shortly afterwards, the army discovered six other refugees nearby. They tried to escape, but were stopped.
The detainees stated that they had been led across the border with a foot tractor. The Iraqi would have known the area very well.
The police surprised the perpetrators
The first arrest took place in the evening. Detectives in Siegendorf tracked down the smuggler who had been waiting for the illegal border commuters with a white van. “My navigation system went crazy. I actually wanted to go to Vienna to buy a car engine,” said the 30-year-old Syrian.
Up to 5000 euros per head
Actually, the perpetrator should have brought the 17 migrants to Germany. For this he collected 3,000 to 5,000 euros per head, a total of almost 70,000 euros. The driver himself received 6,000 euros as wages. The prosecutor’s office had him arrested because of the risk of collusion and the risk of committing a crime.
The smuggler was taken to Eisenstadt prison this weekend.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
