MOSCOW (Sputnik) — The number of smugglers detained in Germany over illegal refugee trafficking has increased by 40 percent in 2015, Bild am Sonntag newspaper has reported, citing the German Interior Ministry.
Over 2,330 refugee smugglers have been detained in Germany by September 8, an increase of 40 percent from the previous year, the media outlet reported, citing the ministry's data.
The newspaper reported that most of the detained human traffickers were from Hungary, Romania, Syria, Bulgaria, and Serbia.
Germany is among EU countries dealing with a rapidly escalating migrant crisis, as hundreds of thousands of people flee war-torn regions in the Middle East and North and Sub-Saharan Africa seeking refuge in the European Union.
Germany opened its borders to some 20,000 people earlier this week. The country pledged to take in a total of 800,000 by the end of this year.
