Security Staff Held for Smuggling Refugees to the UK from Vienna Airport

Refugees have allegedly been smuggled into Vienna airport and onto planes heading for the U.S. and the U.K. by private security firms hired to carry out security checks, say Austrian prosecutors.

Two employees of an unknown private security firm—one Polish and one Sri Lankan—who were hired by Austrian Airlines are now in custody, and another four members of staff have been detained, according to state prosecutor spokesman Friedrich Köhl, in comments made to the Kurier newspaper.

All six are accused of smuggling refugees, mostly Sri Lankans, into the airport and onto airplanes in exchange for between $7,600 and $9,800 per refugee.

In total, 13 people are being investigated in connection with the case, according to public prosecutor Friedrich Koehl.

Reuters reported that a member of staff of the British security firm G4S is also under suspicion and has already been sacked.

Graham Levinsohn, G4S Regional CEO for Europe, said: "I can confirm that in compliance with Austrian labour law, an employee responsible for checking visa documentation at Vienna Airport on a contract with Austrian Airlines was dismissed in March following his arrest. A trial is on-going and we are unable to comment further."

So far, it is thought there have been 11 incidents of refugees arriving in Vienna via Germany and other European countries and then being smuggled on to the U.S. and U.K. The investigation was launched at the end of February.

Austrian prosecutors did not say how many companies are thought to be involved nor how many refugees have been smuggled.

The employees reportedly asked friends to pass through security checks with flight tickets. The tickets were then handed over to the refugees who were waiting in the airport toilets, according to The Local.

Peter Kleeman, a spokesperson for Vienna International Airport, said: "All the people had a valid boarding pass. It is obvious that the travel documents and personal documents were exchanged after the security check.

"But the fact is that all individuals passed through the airport security checkpoints and therefore were able to reach dangerous objects and other things on board," he continued.