International smuggling gang busted in Bavaria – four arrests!

International smuggling gang busted in Bavaria – four arrests!

Munich, Bad Tölz, Oberammergau, Marktoberdorf, Bolzano (ITA), Zurich (CHE) - A significant blow against organized crime was recorded on Wednesday, October 16th, by the Kempten public prosecutor's office and the Munich Federal Police Inspectorate. An international smuggling ring that had been active since at least October 2022 was uncovered and dismantled. The operation, part of a joint investigation team, led to extensive apartment searches in several cities in Bavaria as well as in Italy and Switzerland. A total of eight properties were searched in the early hours of the morning and four suspected perpetrators were arrested.

The investigation focused on a gang of smugglers who illegally smuggled numerous migrants to Italy, Austria and Germany in exchange for significant payments via the route known as the Balkan route. The perpetrators' approach was remarkably well thought out and strategically sophisticated. A comprehensive route plan was developed and special “scout drivers” were deployed to identify and avoid possible police checkpoints.

International cooperation

The background to the gang's arrest goes back to a previous investigation that began in Austria in October 2022. At that time, a Turkish citizen was arrested while smuggling six compatriots into Vorarlberg. This case laid the foundation for further investigations, which ultimately led to international cooperation with authorities in Italy and Switzerland. This collaboration made it possible to identify additional smuggler contact points in Bolzano and Zurich.

These intensive investigations not only made it possible to identify the arrested people, but also prevented a large number of planned smuggling operations in Italian and Austrian territory. The four defendants, all of Turkish nationality, are accused of having illegally transported a total of 71 people across borders, with the greater Bolzano area serving as an important stopover.

In total, around 120 federal police officers and security forces from Switzerland and Italy were involved in the large-scale operation. This extensive coordination of the security authorities led to the execution of four pre-trial arrest warrants. In addition, a vehicle that was demonstrably used for the smuggling, as well as extensive evidence, were seized. This includes several smartphones and cash amounting to 22,500 euros.

The Traunstein model

The so-called “Traunstein model”, which was launched by the Kempten public prosecutor’s office to combat cross-border organized crime, has now been implemented at several Bavarian public prosecutors’ offices. This model aims to effectively intensify the prosecution of international gangs that engage in human trafficking, drug trafficking and arms trafficking through targeted specialization and close cooperation with international police authorities and institutions such as Eurojust and Europol.

The investigation into this particular case has not yet been completed, and the evidence secured from the operations must now be intensively evaluated. The joint action underlines the need for ongoing international cooperation to combat the growing threat posed by organized crime. As www.presseportal.de reports, the operations team is making a significant contribution to continuing this important work.