They charged 500 euros to move from one country to another, and could even deal with residence permit applications for an additional contribution.
According to our information, on May 22, three people were arrested in Stains (Seine-Saint-Denis), and tried Thursday, May 27 for their participation in an illegal immigration network.
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On the basis of information, investigators from the service for the fight against irregular immigration (SDLII) of the Prefecture of Police first observed a strange ballet in the parking lot of a shopping center in the city, the three individuals suspects exchanging passengers and luggage between two minivans registered in Portugal. All those present were arrested, the travelers in question revealing to be a family of six from Pakistan, and four other migrants from countries close to India. None of them had a valid residence permit on French soil.
Of the three individuals who supervised them, also of Indian and Pakistani nationality, were found 6,000 euros in cash. The investigations then made it possible to bring to light a large-scale illegal immigration network, launched last March. The smugglers organized back and forth in Europe, each time transporting illegal immigrants from Pakistan, Bangladesh, India or other countries in the Indian region, in order to obtain residence permits. On May 22, in addition to the two vehicles stopped, other trips took place, with a total of 35 people taken between France, Germany and Portugal. Each passenger paid 500 euros to travel between these countries and each time, to try his luck. Portuguese minivans were rented, the drivers paid 400 euros per trip.560 people would have been sent in a few weeks, the revenue being estimated at 280,000 euros.
One year in prison for smugglers
For the ten illegal immigrants arrested, six obligations to leave the territory (OQTF) were pronounced, the other four having been released by the justice system.
The three smugglers involved have for their part recognized their participation in the sector, which would have important ramifications in Portugal, and were placed in pre-trial detention until their appearance on Thursday, May 27.
For their misdeeds, they were sentenced to one year in prison, with a committal warrant.
