ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The German federal authorities conduct anti-smuggling operations in coordination with local and international partners, a police official said.
“To combat smuggling crime, the Federal Police works closely with national and international partners. At the European level, this cooperation takes place particularly within the framework of EMPACT as well as with Europol,” Christina Maul from the Press Office of the German Federal Police Directorate, told Rudaw on Friday.
European Multidisciplinary Platform Against Criminal Threats (EMPACT) is an EU Member States-led security initiative aimed at identifying, prioritizing, and tackling threats from organized and serious international crime.
“This includes, among other things, rapid information exchange and, if necessary, conducting joint investigations to combat smuggling crime,” she added.
The German official also explained that “the acquisition and possession of inflatable boats is not illegal in Germany.”
Germany is ramping up deportations, with hundreds of individuals being returned at its borders, sparking criticism from opposition parties over human rights concerns.
Germany is a popular destination for tens of thousands of Iraqis and residents of the Kurdistan Region who attempt to reach Europe each year, often through smuggling routes.
Kehy Mahmoud contributed to this report.
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