In the world of human smugglers: 'A complete package to the Netherlands costs 3,000 euros' | RTL News

Abu Hassan, Ahmed and two other smugglers have been living at Camp Lipa in Bosnia for years, where one of our reporters was able to speak with them confidentially (see footnote below). They sit in one room, from which they arrange human smuggling for migrants who want to travel to EU member states. Lipa, which is largely funded by the European Union, is the starting point for what is known there as “the game.” As if in a game, migrants are always looking for new ways to cross borders.

The attempt failed

Smugglers have just tried to help refugees cross the border into Croatia, the gateway to the European Union.

“It didn't work,” says Ahmed, 23, as he enters the room. “We were arrested.” “Try again tonight,” says Abu Hassan, lying on one of the bunk beds. “I lost the phone on the way,” Ahmed says. “On the Croatian or Bosnian side?” Abu Hassan asks in a disapproving tone as he stands on his feet. “I don’t know,” Ahmed answers. “It must have fallen somewhere along the way.” “You have to look for him, otherwise we will all be in trouble. We must not leave any traces.”

For Abu Hassan, who is about 50 years old, it is a day like many others. He is clearly the head of the smuggler group in the room. The others all point him out, and the guards at the camp seem to look up to him as well. “Abu Hassan knows everything,” Ahmed says. “I just work here. I want to get enough money so I can go to Germany myself. This is where my family lives.”

Family network

Everyone who works with him, whether smugglers, recruiters or drivers transporting people to their destinations within the European Union, are people from his family or people from the same village in Syria as Abu Hassan. “In our business, you need people you can trust. Family ties provide that trust.”

“We offer people two options to get to their desired destination,” Abu Hassan said. “The cost depends on what you want.” “From Bosnia to Slovenia costs 1,500 euros. The complete package to the Netherlands costs 3,000 euros.”

In the first option, Abu Hassan connects the migrants with another smuggler in Slovenia, who takes over the task of transporting the migrants by car to their final destination. This costs 1000 euros from Slovenia to the Netherlands. “If you get a full package, you pay once for the entire trip from here to the Netherlands.” To ensure this is profitable for Abu Hassan, the migrants must travel in groups of at least four people at a time.

Advantages and guarantees

“If you deposit the money today, you can leave tonight,” says Abu Hassan. “And then you will be in the Netherlands in three days, with a car in one trip from Slovenia to the Netherlands.” He says he ensures that he is able to transport migrants to their desired destination as quickly as possible. Human smugglers compete with each other, so it is important to offer these “benefits.”

According to Abu Hassan, migrants do not have to pay anything before arriving at their desired destination. He works with private agencies in Türkiye that provide money transfer services. He explains: “You can deposit the amount there through a family member or acquaintance, with your name, my name, and my phone number.”

“When you are at the desired destination, you can inform the agency by sending a video of your destination. Only then can I receive the money.”

A smuggler enters and hands 50-euro notes bound in a rubber band to Abu Hassan, who puts the money in his sweatpants pocket. “We provide a service to people to take them to the country of their dreams,” Abu Hassan explains his motivations for people smuggling. “People have to pay for it. You can see it as a business.”

Meeting Café

Abu Hassan says his profits in this “business” are very small: “We have to pay all kinds of people who are involved in getting you to your destination safely.” “You may find smugglers who do it cheaper than us, but they will leave you midway and take your money and belongings. We stand with the migrants. We do not want them to be exploited.”

A Bosnian aid worker who works regularly in the Lipa camp in northern Bosnia recognizes these stories. She wants to remain anonymous, fearing that her organization will face problems. “Sometimes I have the impression that the number of smugglers in Libya is greater than the number of 'ordinary' migrants.

“Previously, the migrants did not want to go to the Lipa camp, because it was still too far from the border with Croatia. They preferred to stay in a self-made camp. Squatting“These were usually empty houses or other buildings that had been 'taken over' by the migrants. 'This way they were closer to the border and could try to cross it every day.' All these places are now closed and it is up to the aid worker she meets now to go. To Libya, where the smugglers are located.

But smugglers are also active outside the camp. Many migrants gather at a café in Velika Kladusa, on the far northwestern tip of Bosnia. To drink coffee, chat or charge their phone. The only person who speaks English is a young Afghan man. At first he said he was on his way to France, then suddenly he whispered: “I'll tell you a secret. I was in Brussels last weekend.” He shows his videos at Grote Markt.

“I came back to help my family go to Europe as well,” he says. After asking a little about the methods he uses, he started showing off. “I know all the roads, I know where the police are and where they are not. I have already helped dozens of people cross the border.”

Expensive watches and branded sunglasses

At that moment two Turkish men entered the café. And judging by the expensive watches and brand-name sunglasses they wear, they are not immigrants. In addition, the car they were traveling in had a French license plate. The Afghan man welcomes them warmly and switches to Turkish.

The Afghan man and the Turks will not openly admit their involvement in human smuggling, but everything indicates that this café is also used as a meeting and gathering place, that the Turkish men are the “boss” and the Afghan boy is their place. The assistant who recruits “clients” for them.

The smugglers themselves seem to think they are doing something good for their fellow human beings. Ibrahim (34 years old), a smuggler who has also lived in the Lipa camp for two years, says: “We do not want the migrants to be exploited.” He offers much cheaper smuggling routes than Abu Hassan. He sells locations and routes on Google Maps to migrants for 300 euros. “I'll give you the path where you'll encounter a few policemen. If you follow the path, you'll automatically arrive in Slovenia.”

But he says he has a better option, although it's a bit more expensive. For 1,500 euros per person, he promised to take people to Slovenia himself. “I just came back,” he says. “I took 21 people to Slovenia. If there are minors and women in a group of migrants, they often don’t have to deal with aggressive border guards who forcibly return you.” “That's why I make sure there are women and children in every group I deal with.”

Ibrahim himself fled Syria and stayed in Serbia. There he began smuggling people to Hungary. When the borders there were strictly controlled, he came to Bosnia two years ago and began smuggling people into Croatia and Slovenia.

He says he has helped thousands of people cross the border in the past two years. “Without us they cannot reach their destination. They have to pay for it, but they get a life in return.” A police officer approaches Ibrahim and asks him why his pants are dirty. “The game,” he answers, and then the officer nods and walks away.

footnote

For this story, a journalist from RTL Nieuws registered at Camp Lipa to speak secretly with migrants and people smugglers. Smugglers do not usually talk to the media about their methods and motivations for doing this work. This was why RTL News went underground and documented the world of smugglers from the inside.