Three suspected members of Syrian migrant-smuggling networks have been arrested following a joint operation carried out in Germany and Serbia, Europol announced on Thursday.
The arrests come as Europe continues to deal with the aftermath of last week’s migrant crisis, during which more than 70,000 migrants crossed from Morocco into the Spanish North African enclave of Ceuta, Reuters reported.
In a statement, Europol said investigators targeted senior members of two interconnected Syrian criminal networks believed to have organized the smuggling of more than 900 migrants into the European Union.
Those arrested include a 26-year-old Syrian national in Germany, a 31-year-old Syrian national in Belgrade, and another suspect in the Serbian capital.
According to Europol, the networks have been involved in transporting migrants into Europe since 2022 through Mediterranean crossings from Libya and along the Balkan migration route.