Europol dismantles migrant smuggling network through the Balkans

An operation led by Europol, through authorities in several countries, such as Bulgaria, Greece, the Netherlands and Romania, has hit an organized criminal group for smuggling migrants through the Balkans.

These citizens used rented, stolen, and fraudulently registered vehicles.

The investigation targeted a criminal network composed mainly of Syrian and Egyptian nationals suspected of organizing the illegal transportation of migrants from Greece through Bulgaria and Romania before facilitating their onward journey to Italy.

The action took place more specifically in these areas: Thessaloniki and Athens, Sofia, Bucharest and Etten-Leur in the Netherlands.

The coordinated action led to the arrest of seven suspects; five in Greece, one in Bulgaria and one in the Netherlands.

So far, authorities have linked the group to 12 incidents of migrant smuggling discovered between February and July 2026. Four other previous incidents remain under investigation and are believed to be linked to the same criminal network. The migrants transported were mainly Egyptian, Iraqi and Syrian nationals. /CNA

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