An international investigation, coordinated by the Europol task force, has resulted in the dismantling of a large-scale organized criminal network involved in migrant smuggling along the Balkan route. Serbian authorities, collaborating with Bulgarian law enforcement, apprehended five suspects, including the group’s leader and two active police officers. The criminal network, which operated out of Pirot, Serbia, is suspected of smuggling at least 201 migrants, predominantly Afghan nationals.
These individuals were transported from Turkey through Bulgaria and into Serbia, with the ultimate destination being Western European countries between January and July 2026. During the operation, authorities seized three vehicles used for transport, along with firearms, ammunition, radios, mobile phones, approximately 5,700 euros, and 40,000 Serbian dinars. The investigation indicates the smuggling network had been active since 2025.
The operation revealed the smuggling process involved moving migrants from Turkey to Bulgaria, followed by an illegal crossing into Serbia at pre-determined GPS coordinates where the criminal group members awaited them. These facilitators provided temporary shelter and arranged onward travel. The cost for transport from the Bulgarian border to Belgrade was reported at 1,000 euros per person, with an additional 300 euros required for passage to the Hungarian border.
Payments were primarily executed through the informal Hawala money transfer system. The success of the dismantling effort was attributed to the close cooperation between regional police forces. Four Bulgarian investigators were deployed to Serbia to support the operation, and Europol provided specialized expert assistance on the day of the raid.
Topics: #smuggling #network #criminal
