Croatian Police Bust International Human Trafficking Ring Charging €5,000 Per Person

Croatian police have dismantled an international human trafficking network that smuggled migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt into Croatia and other EU countries for a fee of €5,000 per person. The criminal group, which operated out of Romania, Italy, and Austria, obtained Romanian work visas for the migrants through a network of linked companies. The migrants were then transported to the border area near Timisoara, Romania, from where they were further trafficked into Italy, Austria, and Germany.

Authorities estimate the trafficking ring earned at least €1 million from their illegal activities. During a coordinated action day, law enforcement in Romania, Italy, and Austria, supported by Eurojust and Europol, took down the criminal network. 12 suspects were identified and approximately €146,000 in cash was seized.

Why this matters: This case highlights the ongoing problem of human trafficking and migrant smuggling into the European Union by organized crime groups. It emphasizes the need for continued international cooperation among law enforcement to combat these criminal networks that exploit vulnerable migrants for profit.

An official from Eurojust stated, "This successful operation demonstrates the importance of cross-border judicial and law enforcement collaboration in tackling the serious crime of human trafficking. We will continue to support our national authorities in bringing the perpetrators to justice and protecting the victims of these heinous acts." Croatian police said the investigation is ongoing and further arrests are expected as they work to fully dismantle this human trafficking operation.

Key Takeaways

• Croatian police dismantled an international human trafficking network.
• The network smuggled migrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Egypt into EU for €5,000/person.
• The criminal group operated in Romania, Italy, and Austria, earning €1 million illegally.
• 12 suspects were identified, and €146,000 in cash was seized in a coordinated action.
• The case emphasizes the need for international cooperation to combat human trafficking.