On 13 November 2025, the German Federal Police, in close cooperation with French border police and with the support of Europol and Eurojust, have dismantled a criminal network believed to have smuggled nearly 900 people into Europe between 2021 and 2023.

The action day led to the following results:

• 6 arrests (2 in Germany and 4 in France)
• 11 property searches (4 in Germany and 7 in France)
• Seizure of firearms, electronic devices and cash
• Freezing of bank accounts

The network is suspected of facilitating migration on an ongoing basis from Türkiye via Serbia, Austria, Germany and France. Investigators believe that the criminal organisation earned more than EUR 4 million through these illicit activities. Irregular migrants were transported in disregard for their safety, with smugglers using dangerous concealment methods and engaging in reckless driving to ensure escape and avoid detection.

Lives at risk

The criminal network had a hierarchical structure, with specific roles assigned to the members, to ensure the success of the illicit activities. Investigators believe that the gang had hired more than 20 drivers to carry out the transfers. It is also a plausible suspicion that these suspects are linked to a smuggling incident that resulted in the death of a migrant on 13 July 2023 in Germany.

That day, a driver caused an accident while smuggling people into Europe. When the police ordered him to stop the bus, he tried to escape. One woman, a migrant, died in the accident, and several others were seriously injured. The driver was convicted of murder. The criminal network under investigation is suspected of having taken the woman back to Serbia by car, the country from which she had begun her journey to Germany.

The joint operation on 13 November 2025 was the result of months of coordinated intelligence-sharing and investigative work. Europol supported the national authorities by facilitating the coordination among the affected countries and the exchange of operational information, and by delivering operational analysis reports. Additionally, on the day of the operation, a specialist was deployed to Germany with a mobile office to deliver on-the-spot support to investigators.

A priority for Europol

Europol’s contribution to this case serves as an example of how migrant smuggling remains a priority for Europol. The crime is increasingly marked by violence and brutality, leading to significant loss of life and occasionally targeting rival criminals, law enforcement, and the migrants themselves.

In addition, migrant smuggling continues to be an attractive and highly profitable criminal activity on a large scale. It does not only involve facilitating the movement of irregular migrants but also assisting them in fraudulently regularising their stay.

The following authorities participated in the investigation:

• Germany: Federal Police Office for Crime Control (Bundespolizeiinspektion Kriminalitätsbekämpfung Halle)
• France: National Directorate of the Border Police (Direction Nationale de la Police aux Frontières, OLTIM)

The European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) tackles the most important threats posed by organised and serious international crime affecting the EU. EMPACT strengthens intelligence, strategic and operational cooperation between national authorities, EU institutions and bodies, and international partners. EMPACT runs in four-year cycles focusing on common EU crime priorities.