THE HAGUE, 06 August. - (ANA) - A high-value target suspected of smuggling over 600 migrants through the Balkan route was arrested following cooperation between German and Serbian authorities under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol. 

 

The suspect was arrested in Belgrade on 5 August. It is believed that he worked with other suspects to smuggle people into Germany and other Western European countries along the Balkan route. The group brought Syrian nationals into the European Union from Serbia via Hungary or from Bosnia and Herzegovina via Croatia. They were then transported in cars, vans or trucks through Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Poland or Austria to Germany and other countries. 

 

The smuggling network charged between EUR 2 000 and EUR 10 000 per person. The suspect arrested on 5 August played a central role in the network from his place of residence in Serbia. He allegedly transported people to Sombor in Serbia, where he handed them over to other members of the network. He is also suspected of facilitating the movement of people from Serbia into Hungary. Between June 2023 and June 2024, he is suspected of being involved in at least 37 smuggling operations. 

 

The suspect’s arrest on 5 August is part of a wider operation targeting other members of this network in Germany and Serbia. Five additional members of the network were already arrested during coordinated actions in Germany, the Netherlands, and Bosnia and Herzegovina in 2025. 

 

Eurojust supported the German and Serbian authorities through a joint investigation team (JIT) set up at the Agency. Through the JIT, information was shared on the smuggling network, enabling the preparation of the suspect’s arrest. The Western Balkans Criminal Justice Project supported the cooperation between both authorities.  

 

Europol's European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling coordinated an Operational Taskforce throughout the investigation, facilitating the exchange of intelligence between the participating countries and providing operational analysis to identify links between the different investigations. Europol also supported the identification of high-value targets, coordinated operational activities during the action day, and deployed experts to provide real-time analytical and operational support to investigators.

 

 

 

- Germany: Public Prosecutor`s Office Weiden; Waidhaus Federal Police Station and Munich Federal Police Station for Combating Crime

 

- Serbia: Prosecutors Office for Organized Crime; the Department for Suppression of THB and Smuggling of People Service for Combating Organized Crime

Criminal Police Directorate.    - (ANA) -

 

AB/ANA/06 August 2026 - - -