31 migrant smugglers arrested in Austria and France

Name: Operation Austrian Oak

Crime Area: Facilitation of Illegal Immigration

Action day: 9-10 May 2023

Participating countries: Austria, France, and Hungary

Authorities involved:

• Austria: Criminal Intelligence Service Austria with two Provincial Criminal Police Departments (Bundeskriminalamt; Landeskriminalämter Burgenland und Niederösterreich)
• France: French National Police (Police Nationale - Office de lutte contre le trafic illicite de migrants) and Public Prosecutor of Créteil (Parquet de Créteil)
• Hungary: Hungarian Police (Rendőrség)

Arrests: 6 suspects (5 French, 1 Moroccan) on the action day in France; 25 French nationals arrested in Austria between August and September 2022 

Modus operandi: The suspects drove all the way from France to the Serbia-Hungary border, from where they smuggled at least 255 migrants to Austria using vehicles with French license plates. Forerunners were used to detect and avoid police checks and checkpoints. After arriving in Austria, the illegal migrants were further transported by other drivers. 

Europol’s contribution: Europol supported the operation by providing analysis products as well as coordinating the operational meetings between the participants. Europol also contributed with forensic support and deployment of a mobile office on the spot during the action day.

For additional information, please reach out to Europol’s Press Office.