Czech authorities dismantle smuggling ring

A total of 14 people were arrested during a series of raids across the country, which took place in the last few days, news agency AP reported.

Only one of those taken into custody was reported to be a Czech national; according to the police, the other 13 were foreigners, whose nationalities were not specified.

Each might face up to 16 years in prison if convicted.

The group is alleged to have moved at least 1,000 migrants into western Europe since 2021, making at least €1 million in illegal earnings.

The migrants were taken to the Czech Republic as a transit point, according to officials. Most of them did not apply for asylum in the Czech Republic and continued to journey further west, they added.

Read more: Greek coast guard detains two alleged smugglers after sea chase

Open Borders

Since the country is part of the EU’s Schengen Zone, there are usually no passport controls at borders, making it an attractive transit point for the possible smugging of people across borders.

However, individual Schengen member countries are allowed to reintroduce controls if needed. 

Last September, the Czech government had applied such controls along its border with Slovakia, as migrant numbers started to rise after all travel restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic were lifted. 

These controls, however, were lifted in February this year.

In recent weeks, authorities in various EU countries and their partners have performed a series of operations to break up smuggling rings, as migration movements once again are on the rise, reports AP.

Read more: UK arrests suspect accused of masterminded smuggling of thousands of migrants into EU

with AP