BRUSSELS - Eight suspects were arrested in raids targeting migrant smuggling gang, the European Police Office (Europol) said Thursday.

The criminals are suspected of facilitating large-scale migrant smuggling to Germany.

They were arrested in Romania, Serbia and Britain in actions following several months of joint work between the countries involved, coordinated by Europol.

Investigation found that they concealed migrants in lorries through border crossing points.

This year, EU member states have already reported 23 such incidents involving over 400 smuggled migrants, according to Europol's press release.