A criminal organization dedicated to migrant trafficking has been dismantled after the death of two people in a road accident in Murcia

Agents of the Spanish National Police, in a joint operation with the Spanish Civil Guard, have dismantled a criminal organisation dedicated to migrant trafficking, after the death of two people in a road accident on the La Manga del Mar Menor motorway. The accident occurred on 16 November when a vehicle blocked the road with a trailer – which was transporting a boat – causing a multiple collision of seven vehicles, resulting in two people dead and eleven injured. The agents have arrested 17 people as alleged members of an organisation dedicated to promoting illegal immigration through the use of high-speed boats. Three searches have been carried out in Molina del Segura (Murcia), Elche and Rojales (Alicante), as a result of which two cars have been seized – among which is the one involved in the fatal accident -, two firearms, mobile phones, beacons and drugs.

The investigation began on October 6 after the arrest –by Civil Guard agents- of three people at kilometer 10 of the La Manga del Mar Menor motorway, and the seizure of a rubber boat with a 150 HP engine. The boat was carrying 14 30-liter gasoline canisters, backpacks, tools, a GPS, a satellite phone, clothes and food, all of which were seized.

From that moment on, a joint investigation by the National Police and the Civil Guard was launched, which revealed the existence of a criminal organisation that allegedly intended to launch a small boat in the area.

A fatal accident caused the death of two British citizens

A month later, on November 16, the Civil Guard was alerted to a road accident that had occurred on the RM-12 road (El Algar-La Manga del Mar Menor), as it passes through the municipality of Cabo de Palos-Cartagena. Upon arriving at the scene, the officers witnessed a multiple accident caused by the collision of several vehicles with an inflatable boat. Apparently, the accident occurred when a vehicle blocked the road with a trailer in which it was transporting a boat, thus causing the collision of seven cars. The accident left two British citizens, aged 49 and 57, dead and 11 people with injuries of varying severity.

Once it was confirmed that it was a 10-metre inflatable boat with two 300 HP engines, the investigation focused on dismantling an alleged criminal network dedicated to the transport of people and drugs across the Strait of Gibraltar.

After several police investigations, investigators identified the make and model of the vehicle that was transporting the boat on the day of the accident, as well as the place where it could be hidden and the identity of its driver. In addition, the agents managed to identify several people and locate various addresses linked to the criminal organization under investigation.

They used high-speed boats with powerful engines for migrant trafficking.

The investigation revealed that the suspects had changed the registration number of the vehicle used to transport the boat that caused the fatal accident on the La Manga motorway, although the structural damage was consistent with that of the accident. In addition, the officers detected an electrical system that prevented the rear and front lights of the vehicle from being switched on simultaneously, which allowed them to avoid possible police surveillance.

Agents have confirmed that the dismantled organisation was mainly engaged in human trafficking, for which they used high-speed boats to transport people from North Africa to the Spanish coast. In addition, they supplied themselves with stolen vehicles which they provided with false documentation and licence plates. This new modus operandi consists of using quality boats (Phantom type), which have high-powered engines, with which they shorten the journey time to around four or five hours, allowing them to make up to two trips a day.

Furthermore, the network was perfectly organized and its members had a clear division of tasks. While some of them were dedicated to preparing the boats, as well as to the care and custody of the pateras, others acted as front men to give the vessels an appearance of legality.

17 people arrested and three searches carried out in Molina de Segura (Murcia), Elche and Rojales (Alicante)

Finally, on February 25, agents from the National Police and the Civil Guard carried out the operation using a large police force.

The officers arrested 17 people as alleged perpetrators of the crimes of homicide, injuries, violation of road safety, damage, abandoning the scene of an accident, illegal possession of weapons, drug trafficking, smuggling, falsification of documents, violation of the rights of foreign citizens (facilitating illegal immigration) and membership of a criminal organisation.

In addition, as a result of searches carried out in three homes located in Molina de Segura (Murcia), Elche and Rojales (Alicante), they seized two cars – including the one that caused the fatal accident -, a shotgun, a revolver and ammunition. They also seized 15 mobile phones, beacons, different quantities of cocaine and hashish, precision scales and more than 3,000 euros.