Raids Are Conducted By German Police In Relation To The Smuggling Of Syrian Migrants

In homes and other structures that were searched on Tuesday in connection with the alleged smuggling of migrants, German police discovered more than 100 Syrian people, according to the German news agency dpa.

In the course of an investigation, more than 350 federal police officers from Germany investigated several places. According to dpa, the Syrians were reportedly transported into Germany without having valid residence papers.

Five arrest warrants were carried out by the police, two in the western town of Gladbeck and three in the northern town of Stade. According to the news agency, all five persons detained were Syrian asylum applicants who were already residing in Germany.

To be smuggled into Germany, the Syrian refugees had to pay them between 3,000 and 7,000 euros (about $3,170-$7,400). The suspects used the cash to purchase gold, according to dpa.

According to the news source, federal police at Frankfurt Airport had authorized the searches due to suspicions of gang activity and commercial immigrant smuggling.

According to dpa, the attacks were concentrated in Bavaria in the south as well as cities and towns in northern and western Germany.