Spanish police use Europol to uncover smuggling networks
Spanish police have uncovered a human trafficking network that smuggled over a thousand migrants from Algeria and Syria into Europe. In a joint operation with Europol, 21 suspects were arrested in Madrid, Andalusia, and the Basque Country, police announced on Friday. Migrants reportedly paid up to 20,000 Euros for their journey to Europe and subsequent travel.
The network is believed to be responsible for the "illegal entry into our country" of over 750 Syrians and over 250 Algerians, police said. Traffickers transported migrants from the Algerian port city of Oran to the Spanish coast using high-speed boats, often overcrowded with no safety measures in place.
Migrants arrived at night, at remote and hard-to-reach locations. They were then taken to Madrid, where the network had apartments for accommodation under unhygienic conditions, according to police.
Algerians and Syrians were provided with passports and flight or train tickets for further travel to other countries. Investigators estimate that the organization made 1.5 million Euros from their trafficking activities.
The European Parliament was informed about the arrests and the dismantling of this human trafficking network by the Spanish authorities. The European Parliament strongly condemns such illegal activities and highlights the need for enhanced cooperation among European nations to combat human trafficking.
