The National Bureau of Investigation had launched proceedings against a Slovak citizen and his associates on suspicion of people smuggling committed within the framework of a criminal organisation.

The Slovak and Afghan members of the 19-member group transported migrants through Greece, Bulgaria and Serbia to Hungary where they allowed them to rest in rented flats before moving on. In some cases the suspects recruited people who illegally wanted to travel on to western Europe through contacts in refugee camps.

The gang members transported a total of 95 migrants between May 2014 and February 2015 from Hungary to West European countries on a total of 17 occasions at €400-600 per head.

Six Hungarian and 110 Slovak police officers took part in the joint series of operations from April 4 to 8, in Slovakia capturing seven people including the head of the gang, a Slovak citizen. Slovak police transferred the suspect to Hungary on May 10. Criminal proceedings launched in Slovakia and Hungary against the people smuggling gang include 13 suspects.

Source: Hungary Around the Clock

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