Officials of the Federal Criminal Police Office and the State Police Directorate were successful in a stroke against a tractor network: six men were arrested at the end of May in Vienna, who are at the top of the hierarchy of the criminal organization. The gang may have taken between 10,000 and 20,000 euros per tow.
The suspected suspects are five Afghan citizens between the ages of 21 and 54 and a 33-year-old Russian citizen. The internationally active tractor network would be hierarchically structured – those who have proven themselves were allowed to rise to the highest ranks.
Mafian network with good chances of promotion
At the lowest level, Romanian and Moldova citizens mainly functioned as tractors that could train in responsible organizational roles. A Romanian who had previously convicted stated that he started his ‘career’ as a smuggler. Then he got up and was responsible for the organization and the provision of vehicles. With the income he was able to buy real estate in France and Romania.
The recently arrested suspects would have acted at the highest organizational level, as the Federal Criminal Law Agency has announced. They would have used their existing networks to Afghanistan to smuggle people on the so -called Balkan route. Up to 20,000 euros were due per person and dragging. Only one of the suspects was at least partially known – the others denied all allegations.
BKA -Baas: Teams “Efficient and dedicated”
At the request of the office of the public prosecutor, custody was imposed on all accused. Further research is now to reveal the financial infrastructure of the network and other participants. “The campaign impressively shows how efficient and dedicated our top -trained teams work together – network, professional and with full commitment,” said the director of the Federal Criminal Police Office Andreas Holzer.
Tractor crime goes back
Since October 2023, a striking decline of tractor activities has been registered, the police said – a trend that continued in the first quarter of 2025. Only 25 tractors were arrested between January and Mid -Urril 2025. For comparison: 751 arrested in the entire year 2023, in 2024 it was 225 – that means a decrease of around 70 percent within a year.
The number of asylum applications in Austria also fell sharply and is currently at the level of spring of 2020. In April 2025, according to the Executive, around 1412 asylum applications were made – a decrease of almost 40 percent compared to the previous year.
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.
