Áron Orbán, the younger brother of former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, was among four people arrested in a suspected human-smuggling and corruption case involving more than 100 Vietnamese nationals. Photographs published by HVG on Monday evening showed him arriving at the Gyorskocsi Street detention facility in Budapest in a police car.
The National Bureau of Investigation (NNI) and the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office (NVVH) carried out a coordinated operation on Monday morning in Budapest, Fót and Dunakeszi. Police confirmed that three men and one woman were detained. Two arrests were carried out by the Counter Terrorism Centre (TEK), as investigators had reason to believe that firearms might be present at the properties.
HVG reported that its photojournalist photographed Áron Orbán outside the detention facility on Monday evening. Footage released by the police earlier in the day also showed the suspects being taken away in handcuffs, with Orbán identifiable among them.
More than 100 Vietnamese nationals allegedly involved
According to investigators, the four suspects helped Vietnamese nationals obtain visas through Hungarian diplomatic missions over several months in 2024. They allegedly charged each person a so-called recruitment fee and divided the proceeds among themselves. Authorities believe they may have assisted more than 100 people.
The Vietnamese applicants reportedly stated that they intended to stay in Hungary temporarily to attend short training courses. However, investigators say most did not attend the courses listed in their applications. Even those who did take part allegedly failed to leave Hungary before their visas expired.
According to the police, the applicants’ actual intention was to use Hungary as a route to Western Europe, where they hoped to find better living conditions.
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Orbán also suspected of influence peddling
The NNI suspects all four individuals of human smuggling committed as part of a criminal organisation for financial gain. The NVVH has additionally questioned one of the men on suspicion of influence peddling as an instigator.
In a separate statement, the NVVH said the person brought in had allegedly invoked political connections and influence to request an unlawful advantage through an intermediary from the head of a labour recruitment company. In return, he allegedly promised to arrange the company’s reinstatement on the register of priority employers. The authority did not identify the person by name, but the description matches the case involving Áron Orbán.
During searches at four locations lasting several hours, investigators seized documents, electronic data and other potential evidence. The NNI suspects all four individuals of human smuggling committed as part of a criminal organisation for financial gain. The NVVH has additionally questioned one of them on suspicion of influence peddling as an instigator.
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities are planning to seek measures restricting the suspects’ freedom. Europol also supported the coordinated operation.
Find our earlier relevant article here: PM Magyar: Viktor Orbán’s brother has been detained on human-smuggling suspicion
Earlier reports linked Orbán to visa arrangements
Áron Orbán’s business connections and alleged involvement in visa arrangements had previously been investigated by Telex. The news site published an extensive investigation into the matter in 2025, following the leak of a recording in which Orbán discussed visa applications with a government official.
On Monday, Prime Minister Péter Magyar initially said, citing press reports, that Viktor Orbán’s brother had been detained on suspicion of human smuggling. Former Prime Minister Viktor Orbán subsequently described the case as a political attack, writing that he was the real target and that his brother was merely being used as a tool.
