Overview
- Police in Germany and Belgium arrested four Syrians and searched 14 sites Wednesday in a joint probe with the UK National Crime Agency.
- Officers seized 11 inflatable boats, an outboard motor, life vests, petrol cans, pumps, boxes of tyre inner tubes, weapons, gold bars, and nearly €60,000 in cash.
- Europol said the gear was made in Asia, shipped via Turkey to Germany, and assembled into bespoke packages sold for €10,000 to €20,000.
- The NCA traced the network after a tip about tyre inner tubes sent to Italy in March last year, which led to seven vehicle stops and 17 arrests through December.
- Investigators say the seized kits could have carried about 1,000 people to the UK, and the four suspects now face extradition to Belgium to be prosecuted for people smuggling and organised crime.