Hellenic Police said they busted the group in Athens during neighborhood raids last week, arresting nine suspected members and seizing multiple passports from different countries, 19 residential visas, nearly US$5,538 and a luxury car.
The group helped migrants cross into Greece from Turkey and facilitated their journey into an EU country for between $4,488 and $6,733. Migrants would get their make-over first and then be flown to their final destination via commercial airlines from regional airports the group was using for their smuggling ring activities.
Police arrested nine people during the operation, including two of the group’s leaders. A suspect with a European warrant for illegal smuggling to Germany was also arrested.
Police believe the smuggling group formed at the beginning of 2018. The operation was part of a coordinated effort between the Hellenic police and Europol, who in 2016 started the Greek National Operational Plan to stop organized crime groups from smuggling migrants.
UNHCR estimates that between January and July 2019, nearly 21,112 migrants have entered Greece from land and sea crossings. Most of the migrants are coming from Afghanistan.
Criminal groups facilitate 90% of coordinated travel for migrants to the European Union, according to a 2016 Interpol/Europol report. Migrant smuggling also represents one of the most profitable activities for organized crime groups across Europe.
