Aer Lingus Staff Arrested in Immigrant Smuggling Ring

Employees of Ireland’s national carrier were among three arrested at DUB on Sunday. It is believed they used catering vehicles to move migrants from planes to a nearby parking lot.

Two Aer Lingus employees were arrested earlier this week as part of an on-going investigation into an international smuggling ring at Dublin Airport (DUB).

The staff members were arrested on Sunday along with a third man and are suspected of using catering vehicles to transport immigrants from aircraft at DUB to one of its parking lots. An Garda Síochána, Ireland’s national police force, believes that the ring has been operating for a number of years. It is thought that as many as 500 persons have illegally entered the country via the network.

An unnamed senior source told the Independent that “They were taking people directly off planes and using Aer Lingus vehicles to get them out of the airport.”

Ireland’s national carrier has confirmed that two of its employees have been arrested.

“Aer Lingus can confirm that two of its employees have been arrested by an Garda Siochana at Dublin Airport. Aer Lingus is co-operating fully with an Garda Siochana in their investigation. As this is an on-going criminal investigation we have no further comment to make,” a spokesperson told the paper.

The operation has apparently been under investigation for some time by Ireland’s immigration office. Frances Fitzgerald, the country’s Minister for Justice, praised the investigation and subsequent arrests, saying, “I welcome the work of An Garda Siochana in dealing with this issue but, as I say, this is an international issue. We work on this day-in, day-out in relation to our borders and our airports.”

She added that the current investigation is “one of ongoing vigilance and accountability and very high focus on security and immigration in this country.”

John O’Driscoll, Assistant Garda Commissioner, told a press conference that recent immigration personnel changes at the airport resulted in intense police scrutiny at DUB. He explained that “This comprehensive gathering of information and analyzing has brought us to the situation were we have arrested three people […] two of whom are employees of a carrier of passengers.”

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