700 human smugglers caught in last 10 months in Austria

VIENNA

Austrian security forces have caught 700 human smugglers between May 2022 and March 2023 as part of the country's efforts to combat irregular migration, according to Interior Minister Gerhard Karner.

Speaking to reporters on Thursday, Karner said that organized crime groups had taken advantage of the situation following the Russia-Ukraine war, leading to an increase in illegal entry into the country.

He also criticized the Schengen zone system, stating that it "did not work well enough."

Karner stressed the importance of maintaining border controls and called for international cooperation in the fight against irregular migration.

On Wednesday, the minister announced that Austria plans to extend the controls at the borders of Hungary and Slovakia for another six months.