Trial in Eisenstadt – 159 illegal immigrants dragged: 3.5 years in prison

Anton G. was led from prison handcuffed to the large courtroom of the regional court in Eisenstadt on Monday. The Moldovan regularly worked as a smuggler in the past year. “I was worried about money. I only earned 300 to 400 euros a month as a factory worker, but I owe 7,000 euros and have to pay alimony for my child,” explains G., when asked about his motive, through the interpreter. That is why he had himself hired as a so-called “foot dragger”, in other words someone who took illegal immigrants across the green border at night on foot. In some cases, the 34-year-old also drove a rented rental car as the lead car.

Police officers and soldiers stopped people smugglers
Those who were dragged were mostly young men from Egypt, Syria and other Arab countries. When the Moldovan was again on a criminal mission in the night of 4 to 5 November last year, he was caught in the act by army soldiers and police officers and arrested. “During the evaluation of mobile phones, we were able to prove that the suspect dragged a total of 159 people,” said a detective from the National Criminal Investigation Department.

The father of the family fully confessed in court. About the people behind him, however, he wouldn’t say anything, only so much: “I wanted out, but they threatened me and my family.” G. accepted the sentence of three and a half years in prison after a short consultation with his lawyer.