Authorities Arrest 26 and Seize Millions in Assets
Major Arrests and Seized Assets
French authorities arrested 26 individuals and dismantled a South Asian migrant trafficking network. This group smuggled thousands of migrants from India, Sri Lanka, and Nepal into France. Charging between €15,000 and €26,000 per migrant, the network generated millions in profits. Authorities seized €11 million in assets, including luxury cars, properties, gold, and jewelry.
Smuggling Operations and Routes
The traffickers transported migrants to the European Union using routes through Dubai or African countries. They relied on fake tourist, work, or medical visas to facilitate illegal entry. Julien Gentile, head of the French border force at Paris Charles de Gaulle airport, described the operation as exceptionally organized and lucrative.
Suspects and Investigations
Out of the 26 arrested, 15 suspects remain in pre-trial detention, while seven are under judicial supervision. Four recent arrests await judicial review. The leader of the trafficking network has evaded capture, remaining in Dubai despite France’s extradition request. Investigators linked the network’s profits to laundering schemes involving construction companies, gold trading, and informal money transfers.
Government Action and Broader Implications
Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau plans to visit Calais, addressing local concerns about smuggling activities along the northern coast. Migrants continue to risk their lives crossing the Channel to Britain, with at least 72 deaths reported this year. Retailleau will also meet with UK officials in December to strengthen cross-border cooperation.
This case highlights the French government’s intensified efforts to combat human trafficking, which carries sentences of up to 20 years. Recent incidents, such as a grounded plane suspected of carrying hundreds of migrants from South Asia, reveal the persistent challenges. French authorities aim to dismantle these networks while addressing the broader migration crisis.
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