The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) has dismantled a criminal network that was facilitating the illegal migration of African nationals into the European Union (EU) through Russia.
The FSB said the network was led by a group of individuals who arranged for the entry and transit of migrants from Africa in exchange for large sums of money.
In an official statement released on Thursday, the FSB confirmed that the criminal group included citizens from Ukraine, Nigeria, and Russia.
The smuggling network allegedly earned at least 60 million rubles (approximately 651,000 U.S. dollars) from its operations since 2021.
The group’s scheme relied on fake marriages and fraudulent claims of parenthood to secure temporary and permanent residency permits in Russia.
These false documents were used to give African migrants legal status in Russia before they were smuggled into EU countries.
The FSB revealed that the group had been operating for several years, and their tactics allowed African migrants to stay in Russia for extended periods under false pretenses.
The criminal network was led by a Nigerian professor, reportedly a lecturer at the People’s Friendship University of Russia (RUDN), a prominent academic institution in Moscow.
The Nigerian professor allegedly used his academic position and connections to facilitate the illegal migration process.
Five members of the smuggling ring, including the group’s leader, have been arrested as part of the ongoing investigations.
Authorities have confirmed that further investigations are underway to identify other accomplices involved in the criminal scheme.
The FSB’s successful operation included multiple raids across different regions in Russia, leading to the arrest of key members of the smuggling network.
According to reports, the arrests were made after extensive investigations that involved surveillance and intelligence-gathering by the FSB and other law enforcement agencies.
The group’s smuggling activities primarily targeted African migrants seeking to enter Europe through Russia, which shares a long border with several EU countries.
The smuggling ring exploited Russia’s geographic proximity to Europe, providing a lucrative transit route for African migrants desperate to reach Western European nations.
Authorities said the group profited by charging African migrants significant sums of money for arranging their illegal journey to Europe.
The criminal network also took advantage of Russia’s legal system, using fake marriages and falsified birth certificates to secure temporary visas and residency permits.
These fraudulent documents were instrumental in ensuring the migrants could remain in Russia legally before being smuggled into EU countries.
As part of the investigation, FSB agents conducted raids across various locations in Moscow and the Vladimir region.
During these raids, authorities seized migration documents, money, and other materials linked to the illegal smuggling activities.
Footage released by Russian state media showed FSB agents searching homes and outdoor areas believed to be connected to the smuggling network.
In one of the raids, authorities discovered and rescued three Russian nationals who had been held captive and exploited by the smugglers.
These individuals were freed during a raid in the Vladimir region and have since been handed over to the police for further care and assistance.
The FSB’s announcement about dismantling the smuggling network comes amid increasing concerns over illegal migration routes into Europe.
In recent years, European countries have faced significant pressure to tighten their borders due to the rising number of migrants seeking to enter the EU.
Russia, which serves as a major transit country for migrants from Africa, the Middle East, and Asia, has been under increased scrutiny over its role in facilitating migration into Europe.
Last year, Finland closed its border with Russia, accusing Moscow of using migrants as part of a “hybrid attack” on EU countries.
Although Russia has denied these allegations, the issue of illegal migration remains a point of contention between Moscow and several European countries.
The smuggling network uncovered by the FSB has added a new dimension to the ongoing challenges of migration from Africa to Europe.
As migration routes through the Mediterranean Sea have become more dangerous due to increased border controls, many migrants have sought alternative routes through Russia and Eastern Europe.
Human traffickers and criminal networks have capitalized on the desperation of African migrants, charging them exorbitant fees to arrange their illegal passage into Europe.
For many migrants, the journey involves significant risks, including exploitation, captivity, and in some cases, death.
The dismantling of this smuggling ring is part of Russia’s broader efforts to crack down on illegal migration and human trafficking.
The FSB and other Russian law enforcement agencies have stepped up their efforts to identify and dismantle criminal networks involved in human smuggling and trafficking.
In recent years, Russian authorities have conducted multiple raids targeting illegal migrants and the criminal organizations facilitating their entry into the country.
For example, earlier this year, Russian police detained over 120 illegal migrants from African countries working in a trade warehouse near Moscow.
These operations highlight the growing scale of the problem and the need for international cooperation to address the issue of illegal migration.
