Italian police announced on Tuesday the dismantling of a migrant smuggling network, resulting in the arrest of 15 Egyptians across multiple countries. The ring operated illegal sea crossings from Turkey to Greece and Italy, using sailboats to transport migrants in dangerous conditions.
The network is accused of facilitating the illegal entry of at least 3,000 migrants into Italy since 2021, charging them $10,000 each and earning over $30 million. Arrests were made simultaneously in Albania, Germany, Turkey, and Oman, with coordination from Italian anti-mafia prosecutors in Sicily and support from Interpol and Europol.
Led by an Egyptian based in Istanbul, the operation involved recruiting skilled skippers and providing logistical support in Turkey. Migrants were then transported by sailboats, sometimes crammed with dozens of people, across perilous Mediterranean waters without life-saving equipment.
This disruption comes amid growing concerns over the deadly risks faced by migrants attempting the Mediterranean crossing, a route which saw a tragedy off southern Italy in February 2023, when at least 94 lives were lost.
