Trieste Police Net Balkan Migrant Smuggling Ring

Trieste Police Crack Down on Balkan Route Criminal Cell: Seven Arrests, International Cooperation. Trieste, Italy – In a major operation involving Italian, Slovenian, Croatian, and Bosnian police forces, seven members of a Pakistani criminal cell were arrested in Trieste on May 14, 2025. The group is accused of serious crimes including kidnapping for ransom, robbery, and facilitating illegal immigration. The investigation began in February 2024 following a report from an Indian migrant who was kidnapped and assaulted in Trieste. "They held us for two days, beating and threatening us," the victim stated in a police report. The criminals filmed the abuse and sent videos to the victims' families in India, demanding a 2000 euro ransom. Money transfers to Pakistan, France, and Italy were traced, leading to the identification of a key member of the network. The operation resulted in the seizure of makeshift weapons, balaclavas, and drugs. The successful arrests highlight the effectiveness of international collaboration in combating transnational crime.