Smugglers Recruit Belgian Truck Drivers on Social Media

An undercover investigation by Belgian newspaper Het Laatste Nieuws (HLN) has uncovered a sophisticated network of human smugglers actively recruiting truck and van drivers through social media platforms Snapchat and Telegram, offering payments of up to €20,000 per trip to transport migrants from Croatia into Western Europe. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation following the revelations.

The Investigation

HLN investigative journalist Joppe Nuyts and his research team spoke undercover with six different recruiters seeking drivers to smuggle migrants from Croatia, according to HLN’s exclusive report. The investigation identified at least 11 drivers working for these networks, including three Belgians. One of them, identified as B.F., is a Flemish man from Brussels who previously worked in a restaurant and now lives in Zagreb.

Recruiters post videos and messages on Snapchat and Telegram seeking drivers. “Looking for drivers. Have serious rough work for you,” reads one recruitment post. Another video caption states: “Looking for drivers. 8,000 euros per job.” The payments scale with vehicle size: €4,000 for a car, €8,000 per trip, and up to €20,000 for a truck.

How the Network Operates

The smuggling operation follows a carefully designed route to minimize risk. Drivers pick up migrants in Croatian cities such as Zagreb and Split and transport them within Croatia. Migrants then cross borders on foot or through tunnels while drivers cross empty in their vehicles, avoiding detection at border checkpoints. Drivers drop migrants at designated points in Slovenia or near Italy, where other networks take over.

“You drive three hours and earn 8,000 euros. You transport Kurds, Syrians, a bit of a mix. Money is no issue,” one Dutch recruiter told the undercover journalist. Another recruiter added: “If you can arrange a truck, that would be really great. You just pick up migrants and drop them off in Split. Just a full truck, about 80 men.”

Drivers are required to send videos of the migrants they transport to their handlers. These videos are then uploaded to a YouTube channel called “Hamza Baba,” which appears to serve as promotional material for the smuggling operation. A figure named “Baba” appears to oversee operations, reading chats between drivers and recruiters and recruiting on Telegram.

Legal Consequences and Official Response

Human smuggling in Belgium carries a prison sentence of up to 15 years. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office has opened an investigation following HLN’s reporting. Spokesperson Emmanuelle Praet confirmed the investigation and stated that the office has dealt with similar cases before. “In the past, this has already led to several investigations, including the dismantling of organized criminal groups,” Praet said. She added that information may be shared with Dutch authorities if necessary, as reported by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office.

A Europe-Wide Phenomenon

The investigation reveals connections between Belgian, Dutch, and Croatian elements of the smuggling network. Similar patterns have emerged across Europe. In the Netherlands, a comparable case resulted in convictions of Dutch smugglers operating at the Croatia-Slovenia border, as reported by NOS. In the UK, the National Crime Agency (NCA) has warned of identical recruitment tactics targeting truck drivers. Between July and October 2025, nine truck drivers were arrested in Kent, with one Romanian driver sentenced to three years for smuggling 44 migrants, according to Transport Online.

In Belgium, the Liège public prosecutor’s office convicted 10 smugglers in 2024 for similar activities. The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office has also been actively investigating the “small boats” phenomenon, where migrants attempt to cross the English Channel in inflatable boats. A coordinated international operation in March 2026 led to the arrest of four suspects in Germany and the seizure of boats, engines, life jackets, cash, and weapons.

Myria, the Belgian federal center for migration analysis, noted in its 2017 annual report that the development of the internet and social media has facilitated human trafficking and smuggling, as documented on Myria’s website. The current HLN investigation demonstrates how this trend has evolved, with platforms like Snapchat and Telegram now being used for direct, real-time recruitment of drivers. The use of encrypted messaging apps makes it difficult for law enforcement to monitor these activities.

What’s Next

The Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office is now investigating the network uncovered by HLN. Key questions remain unanswered: How extensive is the “Baba” network, and where is this figure based? How many drivers have actually completed smuggling trips? Will social media platforms take action to prevent recruitment on their services?

The case underscores the urgent need for cross-border law enforcement cooperation and highlights the challenges of monitoring criminal activity on encrypted social media platforms. As the investigation progresses, Belgian authorities may coordinate with Dutch and Croatian counterparts to dismantle the network.