Viktor Orban’s brother detained in people-smuggling investigation, Hungarian PM says
The brother of Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has been detained as part of a people-smuggling investigation, the country's new leader, Péter Magyar, announced on Monday.
The National Asset Protection and Recovery Office and police have detained four individuals in Budapest and Pest county. The suspects are accused of facilitating the illegal entry of Vietnamese citizens into Western Europe during 2024.
The investigation centers on a scheme where visa applicants were charged a recruitment fee at Hungarian foreign missions in Vietnam, with the proceeds shared among the suspects.
The detained group, consisting of one woman and three men, is suspected of human smuggling committed as part of a criminal conspiracy for financial gain.
Political retaliation claims
Viktor Orbán, who was ousted in April, has dismissed his brother's detention as political revenge. In a Facebook post, he accused the new government of seeking to eliminate political opponents and establish a one-party system.
The National Asset Protection and Recovery Office was established by Péter Magyar to investigate corruption allegations during Orbán's 16-year rule, which the former leader has consistently denied.
Broader anti-graft campaign
Magyar has dubbed the government's anti-corruption efforts "Operation Purgatory." The office has prioritized cases involving the sale of political connections for residence permits.
The current arrests are part of a wider crackdown that has also led to the detention of two former ministers and former central bank chief György Matolcsy on graft accusations.
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