Alarming increase: 15,000 drag victims and record-breaking arrests!

Alarming increase: 15,000 drag victims and record-breaking arrests!

Oberpullendorf, Österreich - The challenges of towing and human trafficking in Austria are increasing. According to the "towing 2022" management report, which was presented in Vienna by Interior Minister Gerhard Karner on April 25, 2023, the tractor arrests rose to a total of 712 in 2022, which corresponds to an increase of 62 % compared to the previous year. These arrests are part of a comprehensive package of measures that aim to contain crime in this sensitive area. A main topic of the report is also the routes and methods of the tugs as well as successful police operations in which international cooperation plays an important role, especially through the Joint Operation Office of Austria.

The situation is alarming - in 2021 the attacks increased significantly. A total of 41,612 people were taken up, which corresponds to an increase of 92 % compared to 2020. 15,941 of these people alone were dragged to Austria, more than three times as many as in the previous year. The district of Oberpullendorf recorded the highest numbers with 7,747 attacks, followed by Neusiedl am See and a district in Vienna.

international cooperation and prevention measures

Interior Minister Karner emphasizes the importance of international cooperation in the fight against drag crime. The Austrian initiative has established itself as a pioneer in international cooperation, in particular through the Joint Operation Office, which has coordinated bidirectional investigation since 2016. Mixed strips and international police controls at the borders to Hungary, Serbia and Northern Macedonia play a central role. In 2022, 13,000 outdoor functions were carried out to combat illegal migration.

In 2021, the establishment of a new department in the Federal Criminal Police Office to combat towing and human trafficking led to an intensive development of the investigation. This department, which employs 50 experts, has already successfully processed numerous cases. The Loma operation, which led to the arrest of a Syrian group of perpetrators, which dragged people between Syria and Europe.

human fate behind crime

The humanitarian dimension behind these numbers illustrates the tragedy of human trade. Human trafficking is often mentioned in a breath with towing, but there are significant differences. While towing affects illegal border crossing, human trafficking refers to the exploitation of victims. The report reveals that 75 victims of human trafficking in Austria were identified, an increase of 34 % compared to 2020. 87 % of these people came from European countries.

Investigations against Romanian perpetrators, three suspects were arrested for human trafficking. In another case, five people were arrested for pimping, who forced 24 victims to prostitution. The shocking reality of human trafficking illustrates the need for preventive measures and the close cooperation between the police and social authorities.

The management report underpins the predominant challenges and shows the terrifying developments in the area of towing and human trafficking in Austria. According to the report by noe.orf.at and the data of the Federal Ministry for the Interior bmi.gv.at Location seriously and requires continuous attention and action. The decline in figures in 2023 due to changed visual moods could be an opportunity for new strategies in dealing with these complex topics, but the situation remains tense.