Ireland Hungarian man arrested in west Cork on human trafficking charges
A 30-year-old Hungarian man was arrested by armed Gardaí in Courtmacsherry, west Cork, in connection with a major cross-border human trafficking investigation involving a gang that forced Hungarian women into prostitution in Berlin. He was remanded in custody at the High Court in Dublin pending an extradition decision to Hungary.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In court1 Feb
3 reports - Verdict
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports29 statements extracted from the articles
- whatThe warrant was issued for a 30-year-old male via the Schengen Information System. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- whatA Hungarian national was arrested in Courtmacsherry, County Cork (corkbeo.ie)
- whatA 30-year-old Hungarian man was arrested in Courtmacsherry, west Cork, by armed Gardaí. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe man is accused of being part of a major international criminal organisation that forced scores of Hungarian women into prostitution in Berlin over the past five years. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatVulnerable young women in Hungary were targeted by so-called 'lover boys' who started a relationship with them. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe women were transported to Germany on the promise of being with their boyfriend but were forced to work the streets in neighbourhoods controlled by the traffickers. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatThe women had to pay at least 150 EUR to their traffickers every day and were threatened and beaten if they could not deliver the minimum. (corkbeo.ie)
- whatWomen who attempted to escape or go to the police in Germany were badly beaten. (corkbeo.ie)
- whereThe arrest took place in the village of Courtmacsherry, west Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place on 31 January 2023. (garda.ie)
- whenThe arrest took place on Tuesday 31 January 2023 (corkbeo.ie)
- whenThe trafficking gang has been operating since at least 2017. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe arrest was carried out by the Divisional Detective Unit based at Bandon Garda Station and the Armed Support Unit. (garda.ie)
- investigationThe Divisional Detective Unit based at Bandon Garda Station and the Armed Support Unit carried out the arrest (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationPolice authorities in Hungary sent an alert via the Schengen Information System (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThe arrest was carried out by the Divisional Detective Unit based at Bandon Garda Station, backed by the Armed Support Unit. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationThree of the four main suspects were arrested in Budapest and Berlin in September 2022. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationHungarian police received a tip-off that the man had fled to Ireland and was laying low in West Cork. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationA European arrest warrant was issued and Gardaí worked closely with Hungarian counterparts to trace the suspect. (corkbeo.ie)
- investigationTwo men were arrested by German police in Berlin in September 2022, with high-powered sports cars, expensive watches and large sums of cash seized. (corkbeo.ie)
- chargeThe arrest was made on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued by Hungarian authorities. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- courtHe was brought before the High Court, Criminal Courts of Justice, on 1 February 2023. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- courtHe was remanded in custody until 14 February 2023. (garda.ie, corkbeo.ie)
- courtThe man was remanded in custody at the High Court until 14 February 2023 pending an extradition decision. (corkbeo.ie)
- courtA decision on the extradition warrant is expected to be made later in February 2023. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThere had been fears the suspect could be armed and could resist arrest. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe victims were constantly kept in a state of mental terror. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe man was completely surprised when Gardaí raided him. (corkbeo.ie)
- otherThe suspect traced to West Cork was the last target of the investigation. (corkbeo.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 7 Feb2023Hungarian arrested by armed Gardai in Cork wanted on human trafficking charges
Reports the arrest of a Hungarian national in Courtmacsherry by the Divisional Detective Unit backed by the ASU, his remand at the High Court on 1 February 2023, and details of the cross-border trafficking investigation by Hungarian and German authorities.
suspect, 30, male, Hungarian, non-irishvictim, female, Hungarian, non-irish - 3 Feb2023Armed gardai involved as man arrested in Cork village
Provides details on the arrest warrant process: the Schengen Information System alert from Hungarian authorities, involvement of the Divisional Detective Unit at Bandon and the Armed Support Unit, and confirms the High Court remand date of 14 February 2023.
suspect, 30, male, Hungarian, non-irish - 1 Feb2023Extradition Arrest of Hungarian National in County Cork and Court Appearance - 1st February 2023
Confirms the remand period until 14 February 2023 and specifies the arrest was made by the Divisional Detective Unit at Bandon and the ASU on foot of a European Arrest Warrant issued via the Schengen Information System.
suspect, 30, male, Hungarian, non-irish