The reinforced border controls in Baden-Württemberg lead to more arrests.
Stuttgart (dpa/LSW) – Since the introduction of the increased controls at the borders, emergency services have arrested a large number of smugglers in Baden -Württemberg. From September 16, 2024 to September 30, 2025, according to the federal police, this was 213.
102 smugglers were arrested on the Swiss land border, and a total of 1,653 nationwide. Schleuser often press out high sums and bring them to Germany under inhumane conditions.
The number of unauthorized entry and the people who have been rejected at the border goes back to the massive climbs over the past few years.
At the border with Switzerland, the highest level of unauthorized entry was reached in 2023 with 16,370. Since then, the number has gradually declined. At the border with France, the highest level of unauthorized entry was reached with 5,466 last year. This year the number was 5,436 by the end of September.
In Baden-Württemberg, the border to Switzerland has been monitored more than a year since autumn 2023 and France. The federal police are responsible for this.
Kehl‘s mayor Wolfram Britz and his Strasbourg counterpart Jeanne Barseghian, however, complained to Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) about the increased controls. They significantly impaired life in the Franco-German metropolitan area, according to their criticism.
The controls reinforced since May 8th have also become economically noticeable, the city heads reported. The Kehler retail has fewer customers from the neighboring Strasbourg region. Companies in the Baden-Württemberg border region are dependent on specialists from neighboring Alsace.
