24 arrested for smuggling migrants, drugs and stolen goods across the Mediterranean

Officers from the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional), supported by Europol, dismantled an organized crime group involved in property crime, facilitation of illegal immigration and drug trafficking.

Results from the action day on 14 December 2021:

• Nine house searches;
• 24 arrests in Spain and;
• seizures include: four vehicles, 3.5 kg of ecstasy pills (around 6 500 pills) valued at about €152 600, 56 grams of phencyclidine, 710 boxes of smuggled tobacco, stolen goods (61 mobile devices, competition bikes, electric scooters), electronic equipment, documents and about €40,000 in cash.

Smuggling and trafficking goods and people to both Europe and the Middle East

The investigation uncovered that the criminal network was smuggling migrants from Algeria to Spain, but also fugitives from Europe to the Middle East, taking advantage of the boats on their way back to Algeria. The network was involved in other criminal activities including trafficking of synthetic drugs, property crime, tobacco smuggling and trafficking of documents. On the first action day, investigators found a warehouse that was being used by the suspects. Inside the warehouse, they discovered a large number of stolen items that were being prepared to be smuggled to Algeria. The warehouse was sealed off as a result of the action.

The investigators proved that the criminal network facilitated the smuggling of 250 irregular migrants into Spain in 54 separate incidents in the last few months. The criminal group was very well structured, with some members solely involved in management tasks, and others in accommodation, transportation. Hawaladars connected to the network sponsored the illegal trips of migrants but charge high rates of interest. The officers from the Spanish Police also discovered that the leader of the gang and his wife used their nine-year-old son as a drug courier.

Migrants were charged €5 000 for the crossing from Algeria to Almería, Spain and between €700 and €1 000 from Spain to France. The suspects used forerunner cars to cross the border with France.

Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided analytical support. On the action day, Europol deployed an expert to Spain to assist with the cross-checking of operational information against Europol’s databases and to provide technical support with data extraction and analysis of digital evidence.

Headquartered in The Hague, the Netherlands, Europol supports the 27 EU Member States in their fight against terrorism, cybercrime, and other serious and organised crime forms. Europol also works with many non-EU partner states and international organisations. From its various threat assessments to its intelligence-gathering and operational activities, Europol has the tools and resources it needs to do its part in making Europe safer.

In 2017 the Council of the EU decided to continue the EU Policy Cycle for the 2018 - 2021 period. It aims to tackle the most significant threats posed by organised and serious international crime to the EU. This is achieved by improving and strengthening cooperation between the relevant services of EU Member States, institutions and agencies, as well as non-EU countries and organisations, including the private sector where relevant. Currently, there are ten EMPACT priorities. From 2022, the mechanism becomes permanent under the name EMPACT 2022+.

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