The flow of migrants had dried up and smuggling gangs had given Burgenland a head start for weeks. But now it happened again in quick succession at the border. Within minutes, three smugglers were arrested.
It has been quiet for a long time at the state border with Hungary when it comes to illegal migration. The shortest refugee journey to Germany, France or Great Britain goes through Burgenland, but many smuggling gangs have been making a huge detour since autumn 2023. Their forbidden routes now cross other states.
Three smugglers at the border
The strict actions of the executive in countries like Serbia, the tightening of border controls and targeted measures like Operation Fox have left clear traces. In the short term, the situation was just as tense last weekend as it was at the height of immigration. In what was probably a joint action, three smugglers broke through the border in the Kittsee area almost simultaneously at around 7 p.m. on Saturday.
Final stop for perpetrators
A perpetrator from Ukraine was driving a car with five refugees. A fellow countryman was behind the wheel of a car with four migrants as passengers. Both accomplices of a smuggling gang were arrested by the police on the A6. Another smuggler from Albania had driven four refugees to Austria. For him, the last stop was very close on the highway.
13 migrants cared for
After the perpetrators were arrested, a total of 13 refugees had to be accommodated and registered. “They come from Syria, Turkey and Iran. Some are Kurds,” it was reported. The smugglers were taken to prison after interrogation.
The last time the police reported a major attack was in the first week of July. During these seven days, one smuggler and eleven refugees were stopped. At this time, the provisional balance of border operations for 2024 in Burgenland was: five arrests of smugglers and 315 arrests of refugees.
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.
