Serbia and Bulgaria dismantle major Balkan migrant‑smuggling ring

A joint operation coordinated by Europol’s regional task force OTF ITER resulted in the arrest of five suspects, including two Serbian police officers, for operating a migrant‑smuggling network that moved Afghan nationals from Turkey through Bulgaria and Serbia to Western Europe. The raid, carried out by Serbian organized‑crime police and Bulgaria’s GDBOP, searched five addresses and seized three vehicles, firearms, ammunition, a radio station, mobile devices and cash totalling €5,700 and 40,000 RSD. The group, active since 2025, charged migrants about €1,300 each for passage, with payments largely made via the hawala system. The network’s main members were Serbian citizens from Pirot. The operation was part of a Europol‑led effort that began in 2023 to combat organised crime along the Balkan route. Authorities highlighted the significance of the arrests, noting that the involvement of police officers underscores the need for cross‑border cooperation to disrupt human‑trafficking syndicates.