International bust: How police caught migrant smugglers moving hundreds across Europe
Police from seven countries worked together to catch smugglers who moved 750 people through Europe. The gang used complex routes through Belarus and the Balkans‚ charging thousands for illegal crossings
In a big-time operation this fall police teams from seven countries caught a smuggling gang that moved hundreds of migrants through Europe. The group (which started its work about 3 years ago) moved Syrian people to UK and Germany using sneaky routes
- Belarus-Poland border crossings
- Balkans path through Eastern Europe
- Small-boats from Netherlands to UK
- Hidden spots in cross-channel trucks
The gangʼs pricing was not cheap: they took between £3‚750-£10‚000 for each person they moved which means they couldʼve made up to £7.5 million from moving 750 migrants
The main catch was Hussam Al Ramli — a 35-year old Iraqi who lived in Bilston UK; he helped people cross from Belarus to Poland and posted ads about it on-line. Polish cops came to UK just to get him: now heʼs gonna face charges in Poland
Cops did raids in many places: they got 4 people in Germany; 6 in Austria; 6 more in Serbia; and 3 in Bosnia & Herzegovina. Dutch police helped search places too. They took cars phones computers and money from these bad guys
We will stop at nothing to root out criminal networks wherever we find them
The NCAʼs top guy John Denley says its a win against dangerous smugglers — they worked with Euro-friends to catch this group that sees people just as stuff to sell. Now with new Border Security Command theyre putting more cash into catching these types of gangs
