Seven arrested in transnational migrant smuggling ring spanning Greece, Bulgaria and the Netherlands

Police carried out simultaneous raids in Thessaloniki, Athens, Sofia and the Netherlands after arrest warrants were issued, detaining seven people suspected of running a migrant‑smuggling network. The suspects include a 44‑year‑old Greek man identified as the ring’s leader, a 21‑year‑old pregnant Greek woman, and six individuals from Syria and Egypt aged 25‑47. The organisation, which began operating in February 2026, earned about €300,000 from twelve trips that moved migrants from Turkey through the Evros River to Thessaloniki, charging €2,000‑€6,500 per person. Authorities seized two vehicles, cash and surveillance equipment and uncovered links to inmates in prisons in Drama and Komotini. The detainees face charges of organized crime and migrant trafficking and are due to appear in court on Monday.