Suspected people smuggler arrested: “International criminal organizations operate in Belgium”

International criminal organizations operate in Belgium and in our neighboring countries, earning big money from these crossings between mainland Europe and the United Kingdom. Belgium is often a transit country, and boats, outboard motors, life jackets and filled jerry cans are transported with passenger vehicles or small vans from one of our neighboring countries in the direction of northern France.

Commissioned by the public prosecutor of West Flanders, the human smuggling team of the Federal Police of West Flanders is looking for the organizers of this criminal business. After all, it is not enough to arrest the carriers and bring them to court. After all, the members of the organization who are higher up the ladder within the criminal organization often feel unapproachable and try to stay out of harm’s way abroad. In close cooperation with British colleagues, a suspected organizer in Great Britain was identified, after which the Bruges investigating judge issued an arrest warrant against the person in question.

Yesterday, the suspect, a 29-year-old man of Iranian origin, was arrested in Britain with a view to being extradited to Belgium. He is suspected of being the leading figure within a criminal people-smuggling organization. The intention is that the suspect will be able to answer to the criminal court in West Flanders after the investigation.