Coordinated police raids on September 22 across Austria, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom led to six arrests and dismantled a smuggling network that moved migrants through Schengen airports to Britain using forged documents. Europol coordinated the operations, which involved law enforcement from 17 countries.

The action day also included ten house searches. According to a Europol statement, officers seized "ID documents, electronic equipment, evidence, and a large amount of cash."

How did the smuggling scheme work?

The network combined legal and illegal travel methods. The majority of migrants who used the service entered the European Union with genuine passports. In most cases, they had obtained valid Schengen tourist visas before arrival.

Once inside the EU, migrants were instructed to destroy their identity documents. The gang then supplied them with forged replacements, allowing them to conceal their true identities and travel freely across the EU and into the UK.

Many of the migrants came from Afghanistan and Pakistan. The routes identified in the investigation spanned 17 countries, all of which assisted by providing and exchanging information.

Where were the network's bases?

Investigators identified multiple cells run by the criminal group. A major hub operated in Vienna, Austria, where investigators believe many of the counterfeit documents were produced.

A second base in Spain also manufactured fake identification documents. Authorities believe the Spanish cell earned more than €2 million by selling over 1,000 false papers, which were sent worldwide, including to the Americas and the Caribbean islands.

Europol said the network laundered its proceeds through legitimate-looking businesses, chiefly mobile phone shops.

Who supported the investigation?

Before the raids, several jurisdictions beyond the 17 core countries assisted the inquiry. These included Belgium, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The United States also contributed information.

Europol acted as the main intermediary for information exchange between all participating jurisdictions. It coordinated every step of the raids and played a central role in the financial side of the investigation.

What does this mean for Europol's mandate?

Europol's role in combating illegal entries into Europe has grown. In late 2025, new EU legislation expanded its mandate, leading to the creation of the European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS) in March 2026.

The new unit conducts its own investigations and works closely with other EU agencies fighting irregular migration, including Frontex and Eurojust.

Europol's involvement continues to expand because criminal enterprises running smuggling schemes typically engage in other activities, such as the narcotics trade and money laundering. Breaking up gangs at the top levels often fragments many other parts of the operation, including the recruitment of operatives who may endanger migrants' lives.