France arrests 26 for smuggling migrants from Indian sub-continent

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - A French-led investigation, supported by Europol and authorities from several countries, dismantled a vast criminal network involved in migrant smuggling and money laundering, Europol said on Thursday.

The operation, spearheaded by the French National Police, targeted interlinked criminal groups that smuggled migrants from the Indian subcontinent to Europe, the UK, and North America.

The network operated with a sophisticated scheme, exploiting unlawfully obtained tourist, work, and medical visas to facilitate the migrants’ travel.

Routes often included stopovers in Dubai or various African nations before reaching their destinations. Migrants were charged between €15,000 (about $16,000) and €26,000 for the illicit services, which included flight tickets, fake documents, and logistical support.

Since 2022, the groups are believed to have smuggled several thousand people into France alone, generating several hundred million euros in illegal profits.

Authorities estimate the scale of the operation to be one of the largest uncovered in recent years.

The National Police’s OLTIM unit, based at Roissy Charles de Gaulle Airport, led the extensive investigation with national support from the French Inter-ministerial Investigation Unit (GIR Bobigny).

The operation also involved cooperation from law enforcement agencies in Luxembourg, Portugal, the UK, and other EU and non-EU countries, under Europol’s coordination.

Over €11 million in various assets seized following financial investigation.

"Law enforcement and judicial authorities focused heavily on the financial aspects of this case. They uncovered that the smuggling network laundered their criminal assets in multiple ways: through shell companies, hawala, and the trafficking of gold. The network also used restaurant tickets, a system of lunch bonuses for employees widely adopted in France, for money laundering," the statement said.