An international operation has disrupted two major migrant smuggling networks linked to Libya and the Western Balkans, resulting in the arrests of three key facilitators in Germany and Serbia. This follows several years of investigation by the German Federal Police. On August 5, 2026, under Europol’s coordination, authorities in Germany and Serbia targeted senior members of Syrian criminal networks suspected of smuggling over 900 migrants into the EU.
The operation led to three arrests, six searches in Germany, and the seizure of evidence. Investigations revealed two Syrian criminal networks operating along the Central Mediterranean and Western Balkan routes, exposing migrants to danger and generating significant illicit profits. One network, linked to a Libyan militia, organized risky sea crossings from Libya to Lampedusa, while another in Serbia facilitated the movement of migrants via Western Balkan routes into the EU, charging between EUR 2,000 and EUR 10,000 per person.
The three arrested suspects were prioritized as High Value Targets. In Germany, a 26-year-old Syrian national is suspected of smuggling 125 migrants. In Serbia, two suspects were detained on international arrest warrants. One, a 31-year-old Syrian, allegedly coordinated 17 smuggling operations, while the second, aged 32, played a logistical role in moving 625 migrants.
Europol’s European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling coordinated the operation, facilitating intelligence exchange and operational support. Eurojust helped establish a joint investigation team between Germany and Serbia, executing a European Arrest Warrant. The following authorities were involved: Germany’s Federal Police and Bavarian Public Prosecutors’ Offices, and Serbia’s Criminal Investigation Directorate.
The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) addresses organized crime affecting the EU, enhancing cooperation between national authorities, EU bodies, and international partners, running in four-year cycles focusing on EU crime priorities.
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