German border controls catch 182 illegal migrants in the west

trier/hannover - German authorities have reported that 182 people were caught in just four days crossing into Germany illegally at the western borders, where intensified border controls have been put in place.

According to the newspaper Welt am Sonntag, from Monday to Thursday, one hundred illegal migrants were immediately turned back along the borders with the Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg, and France.

The German federal police chief has described the random border controls as a success, noting the apprehension of drug smugglers and other lawbreakers.

For example, on Thursday afternoon at the Dutch border east of Venlo, a Bulgarian traveler was checked and found to have a six-month prison sentence awaiting him in Berlin. The police stated that the border controls have generally not caused significant traffic problems and have proceeded smoothly.

A police spokesperson in Hannover mentioned that the 'classic route' used by illegal migrants does not typically involve crossing the Dutch-German border.

The additional controls at the borders with Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands were introduced last Monday. Similar controls have been in place along the borders with Poland, Czech Republic, and Switzerland since October 2023, and at the Austrian border since 2015. However, Germany's heightened border security has faced criticism from the European Union, with concerns raised about its compatibility with EU principles.