Moreover, and especially after the wave of refugees in 2015, it is a lucrative business: the smuggling business! Every year, thousands of illegal immigrants are smuggled through Upper Austria to seek their fortunes, mainly in Germany. In many cases, the smugglers pay no attention to their “goods”.
On Tuesday in Ried/I. again a trio before the court that had transported at least 60 people on 13 proven smuggling trips. The youngest defendant, a 21-year-old, is believed to be the mastermind who paid the wages and specified the routes. The two co-suspects (43, 52) were active as drivers and drove away in cars or vans with up to 19 people behind them. The human smugglers risk a prison sentence of ten years.
Smugglers are migrants themselves
An evaluation by the Bavarian Public Prosecutor’s Office shows how lucrative the smuggling is. They analyzed ten investigations from 2023 against such gangs and calculated that the perpetrators ‘earned’ 13.3 million euros. The smugglers are largely migrants themselves: 66 percent were Turks or Syrians. The number of foreign suspects of organized crime in Bavaria consisted of Syrians (41), followed by Nigerians (24) and Turks (19).
Border controls are temporary
The European Commission initially limited border controls with the Czech Republic until April 15, 2025. The European Commission initially limited German controls with Austria until March 15, 2025. “It is clear to us that without sufficient EU external border protection, security concerns and the fight against migration must be permanently overcome the ideal image of freedom of travel and a Schengen area without borders. Therefore, the defined deadlines can only be a target, but not the final goal,” emphasizes ÖVP State Manager Florian Hiegelsberger.
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.
