Nine smugglers arrests in Burgenland in just one day! As reported, the driver of a box truck carrying 21 refugees in the Oberwart district activated a major alarm and an operation by the special Cobra unit. When the illegal transport was discovered by a Burgenlander, the driver pulled a knife and threatened the witness. Behind the smugglers’ transports is an Arab-Syrian smuggling gang, which largely operates from Sweden.
In the present case, the smuggling gang had sent spies ahead in an escort vehicle – as is customary on any illegal tour. Two men of Arab descent, driving a black sports car, had to investigate the situation at the border and whether the police were carrying out stricter checks. “The activities of this group of perpetrators are concentrated in the Oberwart district. “Most of the accomplices live in Sweden,” explains one researcher. As the gang headed out on their next tour on Wednesday, an emergency call came in around 8:15 am.
Dangerous confrontation with a witness
A box truck with a Hungarian license plate stopped near the town of Harmisch to let refugees out so they could walk into the forest. A dangerous confrontation took place with an eyewitness. The trader grabbed the knife and threatened the man. Before a stab wound occurred, the criminal ran away. With active support from the air by the aviation police and on the ground by the special unit Cobra, a large contingent of officers went in search of the fugitive.
Escaped smuggler arrested
Then it all happened in quick succession: the two accomplices in the sports car with Swedish license plates were arrested in the Edlitz area and taken away in handcuffs. A few minutes later, police stopped another support vehicle with Swedish license plates in Burg. A man and a woman, accomplices of the Scandinavian gang of Arab descent, were arrested. The escaped smuggler, armed with a knife, was captured before noon in a forest between Höll and St. Kathrein. All five suspects are currently in custody. The 21 refugees from Syria and Turkey who were in the Hungarian van, completely exhausted after a hellish journey, were treated and taken to the first reception centers. There were nine children present.
Smuggling activities are increasing
Three other tugboats were intercepted that day in the Neusiedl am See district. This year, 220 accomplices to organized crime have already been arrested in Burgenland. Last week alone, twelve accomplices of smuggling gangs were taken out of circulation. At the same time, 1,242 refugees were registered, increasing the number of apprehensions to 24,000 by 2023. “The unscrupulous activities of the smugglers are becoming increasingly brazen,” warns a veteran researcher.
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.
