Bari: Aggravated human trafficking, European Arrest Warrant executed against 2 foreign citizens

The Carabinieri of the ROS – with the support of the Territorial Arma of Bari and Gorizia and the Operational Support Team at the 13th Carabinieri Regiment “Friuli Venezia Giulia” – have executed a European Investigation Order, requested by the Judicial Authority of Belgium, Court of First Instance of Antwerp, recognized by the Public Prosecutor's Office of Bari with the observance of the forms required by the issuing Authority, in compliance with the principles of the Legal System of the Italian State, against 2 Afghan citizens who are believed to be responsible for the crime, as classified by the Belgian Judicial Authority, of Criminal association aimed at aggravated human trafficking. At the same time, the European Arrest Warrant was executed against the same foreign citizens.

These measures originate in the context of international police cooperation. at EUROPOL, which sees the participation of the ROS of the Carabinieri, the Federal Police of Belgium, the National Crime Agency of the United Kingdom and other European Police Forces, aimed at combating the phenomenon of human trafficking. In particular, the established Operational Task Force focuses on the existence of organized armed groups, active in migrant trafficking along the Balkan route and active mainly in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

According to the accusations of the Belgian authorities, The arrested individuals, although resident in Italy, are considered members of a transnational organization and involved in the transfer of migrants to various European countries, particularly to Belgium and the United Kingdom. All criminal activities, in addition to being particularly violent, were often documented with videos and/or photos on the main social networks. At the same time, other precautionary measures were carried out in Belgium and the United Kingdom.