Border police in Trieste, Italy, have arrested eight Turkish nationals suspected of being part of a migrant smuggling operation along the notorious Balkan route. The arrests were carried out under the direction of the local anti-mafia prosecutor’s office, according to an official statement released on April 23, 2025.
Authorities also seized 10 vehicles believed to have been used in transporting migrants into Italy. Meanwhile, Croatian police in Split arrested three more Turkish nationals connected to the same network, highlighting the operation’s cross-border reach.
Investigations revealed that at least 52 irregular migrants, including several women and young minors, were being smuggled into Italy. Many of them were Kurdish nationals from Turkey and some Chinese citizens. The probe, led by Prosecutor Federico Frezza, started last spring after border police noticed an unusual pattern of arrests involving Turkish nationals transporting migrants.
Police reports showed that most migrants first traveled by plane to Bosnia and Serbia. From there, smugglers drove them through Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia before reaching Italy, usually hidden in cars or lorries. Many families involved were trying to continue their journey to Northern Europe, particularly Germany, rather than settling in Italy.
According to investigators, the cost of the dangerous journey ranged between 4,000 and 6,000 euros. The smuggling network had well-established contacts across Turkey, Bulgaria, Germany, Bosnia, and several Baltic countries, making it a large and organized operation.
The investigation involved a coordinated effort between Croatian, Bulgarian, Turkish, and German police forces. German security officers were even stationed with Italian border police in Trieste as part of a joint initiative to combat migrant smuggling along the Balkan route and northeastern Italy.
This collaboration followed a special agreement between Germany’s federal police and Italy’s State police, aiming to strengthen efforts against human trafficking networks operating across Europe.
How were Turkish nationals involved in migrant smuggling through the Balkan route?
Turkish nationals were part of an organized network that smuggled migrants from Turkey to Italy through Bosnia, Croatia, and Slovenia, often targeting Northern Europe as the migrants’ final destination.
The arrests in Trieste mark another major step in cracking down on international smuggling routes and protecting vulnerable migrants from exploitation.