Europol announced Thursday the dismantling of a criminal gang smuggling Vietnamese people into Europe, with Britain as a final destination via small boats across the Channel.
Eight arrests were made, with passports, vehicles, and cash seized in a French-led operation on March 30. A network leader was detained in Germany, and another organizer in Hungary.
The migrants entered the EU's Schengen Area in Hungary using visas or residence permits before flying to France. In Paris, they were held before being moved to northern France and handed to a group facilitating the dangerous Channel crossing.
This network organized the entire journey, including logistics, accommodation, and transport, charging up to €22,000 per migrant. The operation follows a similar Europol action on April 3, which resulted in 19 arrests targeting a different gang.