Successful strike against international people smuggling ring
Combating organised crime, particularly international people smuggling, is one of fedpol’s top priorities. In cooperation with the French law enforcement agencies and the Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland, fedpol investigators have brought down a well-organised people smuggling ring that was illegally bringing people from the Russian North Caucasus to Western Europe. The case demonstrates the efficiency and the necessity of international cooperation.
In June 2023, French investigative teams uncovered a network smuggling people from the Russian republic of Chechnya, enabling them to enter Europe illegally. Meanwhile, Russian nationals in Switzerland have been repeatedly found without valid travel documents. Europol has been coordinating ongoing investigations and fedpol is intensifying its own enquiries.
The Office of the Attorney General of Switzerland initiated criminal proceedings against four individuals suspected of organising illegal entry and transit through Switzerland. The Swiss and French authorities have since been working together in a Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to expose the structures of this people-smuggling ring. The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) provided key findings from border checks.
On 28 May 2024, French special police units, including the Groupe d’intervention de la gendarmerie nationale and the Recherche Assistance Intervention Dissuasion, arrested eleven suspects in and around Reims (France). Fedpol investigators assisted the French authorities on the ground. House searches yielded credible indications that the arrested persons could be involved in further offences such as terrorism and arms trafficking.
International cooperation as the key to success
The people smugglers in this case change their routes skilfully and are often lawfully resident in various EU countries. They accompany migrants from Slovakia on their way to Italy and Switzerland and further on to France, charging large sums of money for their services.
Close cooperation between law enforcement agencies in France and Switzerland has proven decisive. The JIT enables evidence to be secured quickly across borders, thus enabling coordinated legal action to be taken against suspects. Smooth communication between public prosecutors has led to swift arrests.
Looking ahead
There do not seem to be any indications so far of any members or infrastructure in Switzerland. In this case, the criminals appear to have used Switzerland mainly as a transit country. The operation shows the importance of early cooperation and information sharing between national and international partners. It is a significant blow to international people smuggling and shows how effective concerted action by the police and judicial authorities can be in combating cross-border crime. The findings from this case will help to detect and prevent future people-smuggling operations at an early stage.
‘The operation clearly showed that Switzerland needs to think outside the box in order to combat people smuggling. This is the only way to send a clear signal to criminals that Switzerland is not a place where they can act with impunity.’
Kuno, Deputy Police Commissioner