The Federal Criminal Police Office and the Styrian Provincial Police Directorate have struck a blow against an internationally operating smuggling ring in a joint operation. Six men—five Afghans aged 21 to 54 and a 33-year-old Russian—were arrested in late May at their Vienna apartments. They are accused of organizing and conducting illegal smuggling, the Interior Ministry said on Sunday.
The arrests took place in the early hours of May 27, ordered by the Vienna Public Prosecutor’s Office and carried out in coordination with the Spielfeld Alien and Border Police Department. The six suspects are said to be members of a strictly hierarchical network. At the lowest level, primarily Romanian and Moldovan nationals operated as foot smugglers, later promoted to organizational roles upon proving themselves. One previously convicted Romanian told investigators he had moved on to organizing logistics and supplying vehicles—profits from which he used to buy property in France and Romania.
Operatives at the Top Organizational Level
The recently arrested men operated at the top tier of the network. They leveraged their Afghan origins and connections along the Balkan route—Turkey, Bulgaria, Greece, Serbia, Romania, Hungary—to Austria. Smuggling fees ranged from €10,000 to €20,000 per person, depending on route and duration.
Interior Minister Gerhard Karner (ÖVP) commented: “The fight against the smuggling mafia remains tough and relentless despite a sharp drop in interceptions. International cooperation is crucial. I thank all investigators involved.”
Cash, Jewelry, and Diamonds Seized
Simultaneous searches yielded large sums of cash, gold jewelry, diamonds, numerous mobile phones, tablets, and laptops. Particularly significant were records of “Hawala” transactions found with one Afghan suspect, suggesting he played a central role in laundering the proceeds.
Specialized units—including Cobra Vienna, the Wega special operations unit, and police dog teams from Vienna and Styria—took part in the raids. Federal Criminal Police Director Andreas Holzer praised the “efficient, professional collaboration” that led to this major success.
Investigations Began in Late 2023
The probe was triggered by the arrest of a Romanian smuggler at the Styrian-Slovenian border in late 2023. Meticulous investigative work allowed authorities to map and dismantle the network step by step.
One of the six accused has partially confessed to using Hawala to pay smugglers and, while employed at a Vienna mobile phone shop, handing over phones and accessories to drivers. The others remain silent. All face pre-trial detention, and inquiries into the network’s finances and other members continue. A separate trial against a trio accused of running hundreds of smuggling operations via Hawala began last Friday at the Vienna Regional Court—but they are not linked to these six.
