Police of the West Coast zone intercepted a German vehicle in May with a dinghy, life jackets, an outboard motor, oars and fuel cans on board. In the car were two Iranians. It soon became clear that the duo was part of a people smuggling organization. After intensive cooperation with the German police services, the organization was mapped out. The Bruges investigating judge issued European arrest warrants in order to have the members of the organization arrested.
On October 20, three suspects of Iranian origin from the Dortmund and Düsseldorf region were arrested by the German police forces. Two of them were extradited and questioned on Friday. They were arrested by the Bruges investigating judge. The third will also soon be extradited to Belgium. The trio will have to answer to the criminal court in Bruges. The two previously arrested suspects have already been convicted.
“Thanks to the investigation, we were able to cut a supply line to France”, says Manuel Manderick of the human smuggling team at the public prosecutor’s office in West Flanders. “We are very committed to this form of human smuggling, because it is life-threatening. Everyone is now convinced of that. Whenever emergency calls come in, it is all hands on deck and we are anxious to wait until people are found alive in the North Sea.”
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