Bangladeshis 'trafficked 900 people into Europe'

Austrian authorities have arrested three Bangladeshi men on the suspicion they trafficked some 900 people into the European Union, police said today.

The men, who have not been identified and are in a jail near Vienna awaiting legal proceedings, are suspected of trafficking mostly Asian nationals into the EU for a fee ranging from €8,000 to €10,000, a police statement said. An arrest warrant has been issued for a fourth suspect.

Most of those trafficked were young men from Bangladesh, but some were from India or Pakistan, Vienna police Lt. Col. Herbert Selbach said.

They were brought to Europe by plane on different routes to avoid arousing suspicion and were stripped of their travel documents upon arrival, Selbach said. Some travelled with false documents, he added.

They were then smuggled to Vienna by car, train or ship and temporarily housed in private apartments in the Austrian capital before a majority travelled onward to Italy, Selbach said.

The arrests, which took place several weeks ago and made public Wednesday, were a joint effort between Vienna police and the Austria’s Federal Criminal Investigations Bureau.