The network not only transported migrants to the Italian border with France but also provided assistance for crossing into France via the Ventimiglia area.

Once in Italy, the organization maintained housing networks in the Crotone area, where they sheltered migrants before facilitating their further travel.

Investigators have uncovered a criminal organization based in Turkey and Iraq, which has extended its operations to Italy, France, and Greece, focusing on the maritime transport of irregular migrants.

On October 21, 2024, Italian authorities arrested 13 suspected members of this smuggling ring, which was involved in transporting migrants from the Middle East and South Asia into Italy and France.

The organization utilized a network of compatriots to shelter migrants in Crotone and arranged their travel to the Franco-Italian border, where smugglers assisted in their crossing.

Overall, the organization focused on the maritime transport of irregular migrants from various countries, highlighting the extensive and organized nature of this human trafficking network.

The suspects, who are of Iraqi, Pakistani, and Afghan nationality, were apprehended in several Italian cities, including Bologna, Rome, and Milan.

They face serious charges, including criminal association and money laundering, as part of an investigation led by prosecutors in Catanzaro, Calabria.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni praised the operation, reiterating her government's commitment to dismantling human trafficking networks and combating illegal immigration.

The migrants involved are believed to have come from countries such as Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Syria, and Lebanon, arriving primarily at the coasts of Calabria.

Authorities seized three commercial properties in Ventimiglia, Rome, and Milan, which were suspected of facilitating illegal money transfers through the 'hawala' system, a method that complicates tracing transactions.