Federal police in Germany have detained 16 individuals who attempted to enter the country illegally. This comes as Germany has recently intensified border controls, with immigration emerging as a central issue in public discourse just weeks ahead of the upcoming election.

The German Federal Police announced on Friday that officers patrolling in Aachen, near the Belgian border, intercepted a van carrying 15 illegal migrants late Wednesday evening.

According to police, the van, designed to accommodate only nine passengers, was severely overcrowded. Several individuals were sitting on the floor without seatbelts, creating what officers described as a life-threatening situation while traveling on the A44 autobahn.

Authorities in North Rhine-Westphalia reported that the 24-year-old driver and all 15 passengers were Indian nationals, none of whom were able to present valid border-crossing documents. When questioned about his residence, the driver claimed to be a legal resident of France. However, a verification check with French authorities quickly disproved this claim.

All 16 individuals were issued warnings and transported to a police station in Eschweiler, where they were searched and interrogated. During questioning, officers discovered that the driver had charged each passenger between €20 and €100 ($21 – $104) for transportation, assuring them that he could successfully evade police while bringing them into Germany.

Those who requested asylum were transferred to local immigration authorities, while the remaining individuals were sent back to Belgium.

The driver was charged with smuggling foreigners under conditions deemed life-threatening, inhumane, or degrading, as well as for posing a serious risk to their health.

Illegal immigration has long been a contentious issue in Germany but has gained even more prominence in the lead-up to the country’s federal election on February 23. The matter has posed challenges for established political parties while benefiting the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD).

Recently, Friedrich Merz, the opposition leader and top chancellor candidate from the center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU), sparked national controversy by advocating for stricter immigration policies. His proposal only gained traction in parliament with the support of AfD votes, further intensifying the debate.

In September, Germany’s Federal Ministry of the Interior formally notified the European Commission of its decision to reinstate land border controls with Belgium, Denmark, France, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands for a six-month period.

These new measures complement existing border checks with Austria, the Czech Republic, Poland, and Switzerland.

German officials argue that stricter border enforcement is necessary to combat illegal migration. However, critics contend that such measures undermine the core principles of the Schengen Area, which was established to eliminate border controls within the EU and parts of Scandinavia.