Marechaussee arrests 3 people smugglers, 21 foreign nationals found | Inland

Saturday afternoon it was hit in Hook of Holland, where tracking dogs landed at a van that wanted to make the crossing to England by ferry. In addition, 14 Albanians were arrested in the port. Among the subjects was a pregnant woman and four children.

A German was also arrested at Maastricht during a check on suspicion of human smuggling. The man transported 7 foreign nationals of Afghan and Algerian nationality in his passenger car.

“It is striking that we now again find large groups in a short time, including very vulnerable people,” says KMar spokesman Robert van Kapel. “Especially now that it is getting colder, it is hoped that this form of smuggling will stop.”

Crowds in Calais

The major could not confirm whether smuggling in the Netherlands is picking up, because it is getting busier in Calais due to Brexit. “We are, however, fully committed to working together with our French, Belgian and British colleagues to combat human smuggling. Our people who focus on intelligence look closely at all information to identify possible trends. ”

“Combating human smuggling is an important task of the Marechaussee,” says van Kapel. “Precisely because we are at all internal and external borders, we can also switch quickly from an information-driven approach. What starts with a regular passport check can lead to the identification of an active human smuggling organization. ”

Figures from the KMar show that a total of 80 climbers were found in ports and at the borders last month. “That happened in Hazeldonk near the Belgian border, among other places. Smuggling transports were also discovered in other places in Brabant and Limburg. ”

Van Kapel is not reassured. “We have to be sharp. The foreigners pay big money to smugglers to travel to England, for example. The dangers are great. Recently we also encountered a group in a refrigerated truck. ”

“We have to wait for it to go wrong again,” says Van Kapel. “You shouldn’t think about the possible consequences, especially if we have to be hypothermic or sick from the vehicle.”

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