France arrests 26 people after busting South Asian migrant smuggling ring

PARIS – French authorities arrested 26 people and seized 11 million euros as they broke up a group of migrant smugglers suspected of bringing several thousand people from South Asia to France, border police told AFP on November 28.

The traffickers charge between €15,000 and €26,000 per person and are suspected of having smuggled several thousand people from India, Sri Lanka and Nepal to France since September 2021, the force said.

Authorities estimate that the network generated several million euros in illicit profits, which were laundered through construction companies, gold trading and informal money transfers to South Asia.

The arrests took place between March and November 2024, said Julien Gentile, director of the French border police at Charles De Gaulle airport in Paris.

“The smugglers facilitated the journey of migrants to the European Union via Dubai or African states, while providing them with illegally obtained tourist, work or medical visas,” Mr Gentile said.

The head of the network remains at large and an agreement has yet to be reached on France’s request for his extradition from Dubai, border police said.

Of the 26 men arrested, 15 were placed in pre-trial detention, seven of whom were under judicial supervision.

The remaining four, who were recently arrested, would be brought before the investigating judge on November 28.

The assets worth €11 million include property, luxury cars, jewelery and gold. AFP