The Spanish Civil Guard issued a statement on Friday announcing the successful dismantling of one of the most complex and active transnational criminal networks uncovered to date in the Mediterranean Sea. The operation has severely disrupted a criminal organization that has been noted for its significant activity within the Mediterranean basin. This announcement coincides with renewed focus on migration issues in Spain and Europe, following a recent surge that saw approximately 72,000 migrants enter the Spanish enclave of Ceuta last week.
According to the authorities, this criminal network operated through a dual mechanism, utilizing high-speed boats to transport manufactured drugs from Spain to Algeria, where they would be distributed across North Africa. This strategy was driven by the high demand for ecstasy and MDMA pills in the region. The statement elaborated that network members exploited return trips to smuggle migrants to Spain's southeastern coast and to Ibiza Island. The police estimate that the group carried out at least 64 smuggling operations, employing violence and intimidation to protect their vessels, and reaping profits estimated at around €24 million (approximately $27 million).
Data from the Spanish Ministry of the Interior reveals a 31% decrease in the number of irregular migrants arriving by sea in Spain between January and July, largely due to a 60% drop in arrivals to the Canary Islands. Conversely, irregular migration to mainland Spain and the Balearic Islands increased by 22% and 10%, respectively, during the same timeframe, with traffickers shifting to routes launching from Algeria. This investigation was conducted in collaboration with Europol and law enforcement agencies in France, Portugal, and Poland, resulting in the seizure of 18 high-speed boats and the arrest of 77 individuals in Spain, along with one person in Algeria.
The statement highlighted that the network charged up to €12,000 for the smuggling of each migrant, often transporting as many as 50 individuals on a single trip. The Civil Guard emphasized that these maritime crossings were extremely perilous, with migrants crammed into overcrowded boats that traveled quickly at night under challenging sea conditions, often without life jackets. Additionally, the network reportedly resorted to restraining passengers during sea voyages to prevent them from falling overboard, indicating a severe level of violence inflicted on both its members and the migrants, with members of the police also facing assaults.
As reported by france24.com.