German Federal Police have intercepted a van near Aachen, close to the Belgian border, carrying 15 undocumented Indian migrants in an alleged smuggling attempt. The van, designed to hold nine people, was dangerously overcrowded, with some passengers sitting on the floor without seatbelts, creating what officers described as a life-threatening situation.
Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia reported that the 24-year-old driver and all 15 passengers were Indian nationals without valid travel documents. The driver, who falsely claimed to be a legal resident of France, was found to have charged between €20 and €100 per passenger, promising to bypass police while transporting them into Germany.
The migrants were taken to a nearby police station in Eschweiler for questioning. Those who sought asylum were transferred to local immigration authorities, while others were sent back to Belgium. The driver now faces charges of smuggling under life-threatening conditions.
Germany has recently intensified border controls to curb illegal migration, especially as immigration becomes a major political issue ahead of the country’s February 23 federal election. In September, the government reinstated land border checks with Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands, extending existing controls with Austria, Poland, and other neighboring countries. While officials argue that these measures are necessary to prevent illegal entries, critics believe they undermine the Schengen Agreement, which promotes open borders within the EU.