11 arrests as part of international investigation into people smuggling through Brussels Airport
A total of 11 arrests have been made, 8 of which in Belgium, as part of an international investigation into the smuggling of Syrians an Palestinians through Brussels Airport at Zaventem in Flemish Brabant. In addition to the 8 arrests made here in Belgium, suspects were also detained in Greece and Sweden, the Halle-Vilvoorde public prosecutor's office reports.
The Syrians and Palestinians were smuggled into Belgium via Athens. The Halle-Vilvoorde federal judicial police started its investigation into the people smuggling in April last year after the arrest of a suspect who tried to smuggle three people into Belgium via Athens. With the help of the Greek police, Europol and Eurojust, Belgian detectives managed to map out a network of people smugglers.
Ingrid Moriau of the Halle-Vilvoorde prosecutor’s office told VRT News that "This is an organisation that smuggled Syrian and Palestinian nationals to Belgium via Athens. Those involved used the so-called 'impost technique', using authentic Greek travel documents whose photos bear a strong physical resemblance to their victims. Once they arrived in Belgium, the victims were given fake European documents. These were used to travel on to other Western European countries. The victims had to pay the smugglers an average 5,500 euros."
On Monday, detectives raided 12 addresses in West Flanders, East Flanders, Charleroi, Antwerp and Brussels, arresting eight suspects. Two more people were arrested in Greece. The prosecutor's office is requesting their extradition. Another suspect was also arrested in Sweden.
"During the searches, 40,000 euro in cash was seized in Belgium and a further 160,000 euro was seized in Greece. Several forged identity documents were also found. This is a modus operandi typical of human trafficking. Tackling this phenomenon is one of the absolute priorities of the new security plan for Brussels Airport and this successful operation is exemplifies the close international cooperation between the police services of the various countries involved."