Raids in Italy

Smuggling network: suspects residing in Austria

The Italian carabinieri have apparently succeeded in striking a major blow against a trafficking network. Raids were carried out in several provinces. The suspects are accused of human trafficking. The Carabinieri announced on Wednesday that searches had been ordered on two suspects residing in Austria.

The Carabinieri, in cooperation with the organized crime brigade of Brasov (Romania), carried out house searches on several suspects in the Italian provinces of Udine, Brescia and Vicenza.

Two Egyptians and one Pakistani living in Italy have been charged. The Carabinieri announced on Wednesday that searches had been ordered on two suspects residing in Austria.

45 migrants discovered
The investigations were initiated by the public prosecutor's office in Udine after 45 migrants were discovered on the Italian-Slovenian border near the municipality of Cividale del Friuli (province of Udine). The aim was to investigate evidence of a larger trafficking organization with branches to Romania.

The migrants had paid considerable sums for the smuggling via international money transfer circles. The investigations were carried out in cooperation with the Europol and Eurojust agencies, the Carabinieri announced.

The accused include three Pakistanis living in Romania and 15 other Pakistanis and Romanians who are said to have been responsible for the transportation of migrants on Romanian, Italian and Austrian territory.

The illegal immigrants were first smuggled into Romania on work visas, where they were fictitiously employed in companies associated with the organization. The people were then taken to Italy and Austria hidden on board trucks.