Federal Police have searched five apartments in the southern German states of Baden-Württemberg and Bavaria, resulting in the arrest of two suspected smugglers. More than 90 police officers were deployed during the operation in total.
The two suspects, brothers aged 39 and 44, are said to have brought up to 100 migrants into Germany hidden in the trunk of cars, using the so-called Balkan route. According to police information, the smugglers charged up to €10,000 per person.
Investigators say that at least 13 such smuggling trips took place — with up to seven migrants from Syria and Iraq hidden away in the vehicles each time. The suspects themselves are reported to be Syrian nationals.
Special forces operation
The older of the two brothers is said to have organized the smuggling trips, while the younger brother was used as a driver.
Special forces were deployed during the operation as one of the men was believe to be in possession of firearms.
With AFP