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Hungarian Authorities Raid Property Linked to Viktor Orbán’s Brother in Human-Smuggling Investigation
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Hungarian authorities carried out a law-enforcement operation on November 9 at a property linked to a company associated with Áron Orbán, the brother of former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Telex reported on November 9.
Anna Unger, head of Hungary’s National Asset Recovery and Protection Office, or NVVH, declined to confirm or deny that officers from the Counter Terrorism Centre had appeared at the property in Fótliget. She confirmed, however, that the NVVH had conducted “further actions” that morning in a case involving Áron Orbán.
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Orbán’s 16-year rule was marked by repeated EU concerns over corruption, rule-of-law erosion, and the concentration of state power, while his government maintained unusually close ties with Moscow and repeatedly obstructed EU support for Ukraine. UNITED24 Media previously documented how Orbán aligned himself with the Russian leader, Vladimir Putin, and used anti-Ukraine rhetoric while Hungary faced mounting domestic economic and governance problems.
His rule ended in April 2026, when Péter Magyar’s Tisza party won a landslide election victory and ended Fidesz’s 16 years in government.
Sources familiar with Orbán’s circle confirmed the operation to Telex but could not confirm whether he had been detained.
Shortly before 10 a.m., Hungary’s National Bureau of Investigation announced that its investigators and NVVH officers were simultaneously carrying out investigative measures in two ongoing criminal proceedings in Budapest and two municipalities in Pest County.
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Police reported that several people had been detained and searches were underway at locations linked to those under investigation. The NVVH later stated that the arrests were connected to a human-smuggling case.
Telex reported that the latest operation directly involved Áron Orbán after earlier investigative steps focused on people in his business circle.
One associate, identified by the initials G.B., had recently been released from detention after being arrested following Hungary’s April election alongside another man identified as János M., known by the nickname “Macsek,” according to the outlet.
Telex noted that the case had initially been investigated by Hungary’s Central Investigating Chief Prosecutor’s Office before being transferred to the NVVH.
The outlet also reported that a Vietnamese interpreter living in Budapest had previously given testimony to the National Bureau of Investigation. The man had knowledge of visa-related matters and had contacts with several people involved in the case, including G.B., Macsek, and Áron Orbán.
According to Telex, the interpreter had met Orbán twice and had knowledge of the role played by Orbán and his partner in the visa-related activities under investigation. The interpreter also accompanied Orbán to a business meeting in Veszprém, the report noted.
Telex first investigated Áron Orbán and his associates in 2025 after obtaining a leaked recording in which Orbán discussed visa cases with Dávid Héjj, an official linked to the Prime Minister’s Cabinet Office.
The recording indicated that Orbán and his associates were involved in arranging visas, while some applications had been blocked by authorities.
Telex subsequently identified several of Orbán’s business associates and obtained internal correspondence and audio recordings linked to the visa business.
The outlet reported that some clients whose visa applications had been blocked later demanded their money back. One man filed a criminal complaint and submitted extensive evidence, including internal messages and recordings, before later dying unexpectedly.
Telex noted that questions remain over whether investigators will establish whether more influential figures with political connections were involved in the visa operation.
Hungarian authorities have opened a broader series of investigations into figures linked to the former Orbán government since Fidesz lost power in April. In October, investigators were examining whether Viktor Orbán personally ordered the seizure of a Ukrainian Oschadbank shipment carrying about $81 million in cash and gold, while several former ministers and business figures from his political circle had also come under investigation.
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