Authorities in Spain have dismantled a suspected migrant smuggling network that had been operating across the Western Mediterranean and Algeria. The investigation into the case was supported by French officials and Europol. Several arrests have been made.
Several suspects were apprehended in a series of raids last month targeting a major migrant smuggling ring headquartered in Spain. The suspects are Algerian, Moroccan, and Spanish nationals, according to Europol.
The smuggling network had a strong presence in the port city of Almeria, located about 550 kilometers south of the capital, Madrid.
While operating mainly in this part of Spain’s Andalusia province, the smuggling ring was reported to have kept close ties to other criminal organizations in other parts of Spain, notably in La Jonquera, located along the French-Spanish border in the Catalonia Province.
Europol also highlighted that the group was linked to criminal gangs in France, particularly in the cities of Marseille and Perpignan.
"These interconnections facilitated a robust logistical structure that included accommodation and transportation for migrants smuggled into the European Union," Europol highlighted in a press release.
Speedboat journeys to Spain and beyond
The smuggling syndicate is believed to have primarily relied on the use of speedboats and leisure boats to move irregular migrants from Algeria to the Spanish mainland, focusing on the coastal cities of Almeria and Murcia.
The vessels were stored in Spain and deployed whenever they were needed; the high-powered engines attached to the vessels were supplied by the network's associates in France, according to a press release.
The perilous journeys would typically see the migrants transported by sea from Algeria to Spain, and later smuggled by land to France and on to other Western European countries.
Europol further explained that the network had latterly extended towards the Balearic Islands too, located roughly halfway between Spain and the North African coastline.
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Migrant smuggling only part of criminal activities
The greater criminal network behind the smuggling operations controlled industrial buildings, in which speedboats, leisure boats and land transport vehicles would be stored; it also had its own boat repair services as well as refuelling systems, stated Europol.
The group also used trailers that had been converted into mobile mechanical workshops for the repair and maintenance of their vessels. This facilitated faster operations and turnaround times.
Europol added that the network's "extensive reach and international structure enabled it to engage in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, arms trafficking and money laundering, to multiply criminal profits while putting migrants' lives at risk in dangerous smuggling operations by sea."
Crime gangs collaborating with each other
The network had a clear structure, according to investigations; Europol said that members of the group were assigned to different tasks, making sure that power and control would not be consolidated in a few hands.
Some individuals were responsible for purchasing, receiving, and distributing high-power boat engines, while others were assigned to counter-surveillance tasks to try and keep law enforcement officials off their trail.
Investigators found that the network had also supplied high-powered engines to other criminal groups in the region and had provided services to conduct counter-surveillance activities to help other gangs also evade law enforcement.
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Joining forces to combat migrant smuggling
The investigation was part of a newly established operational taskforce at Europol, set up between Spain and France. The unit targets migrant smuggling rings that operate across the Western Mediterranean Sea.
Europol explained that it provides support to the taskforce, such as by facilitating information exchange and providing operational coordination as well as analytical support.
A Europol expert was also deployed to Spain during the raids to perform cross-checks of operational data against Europol databases and also generate new leads for investigators.
Read AlsoEuropol launches new unit to fight migrant smugglers
As part of its efforts to combat people smuggling, Europol recently set up a new unit, the European Center Against Migrant Smuggling (ECAMS).
"ECAMS ensures better systematic exchange of information and coordination of efforts," says Europol, which includes strengthening expertise in open-source intelligence and "enhancing the operational impact of the network of liaison officers from Frontex, Eurojust, and the [EU] Member States."
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