Human TraffickingNews

The Spanish National Police detain 20 people dedicated to the illegal trafficking of migrants in boats between North Africa and Spain

Agents of the National Police have arrested 20 people dedicated to the illegal trafficking of migrants in boats between North Africa and Spain. The detainees belonged to a known clan in the area and are considered responsible for a shipwreck that occurred last February in which four people died. His victims, mostly Moroccan minors, were captured in Ceuta and transferred to the peninsula after payment of 2,500 euros. In the operation, in which 150 national police officers from different specialties in addition to EUROPOL participated, seven entries and registration were made, seizing five firearms, abundant ammunition, a GPS, 150 cans containing 5,500 liters of fuel, three boats, 1,380 pounds sterling, 710 euros and various documentation.

The criminal organization of Spanish origin operated in the Campo de Gibraltar region and captured its victims in Ceuta and surrounding Moroccan cities and specialized in the illegal trafficking of human beings.

All the detainees were considered very violent since they did not hesitate to attack or threaten their victims with firearms in case of delays or non-payment of transfers. In addition, they advertised themselves on social networks through music videos where they bragged about their lifestyle and showed the weapons they possessed. 

Most of those trafficked were Moroccan minors who paid 2,500 euros to access the peninsula in boats with a capacity of seven to ten people and are considered responsible for a shipwreck that occurred last February in which four people died.

In the operation, in which 150 national police officers from different specialties in addition to EUROPOL participated, seven entries and registration were made, seizing five firearms, abundant ammunition, a GPS, 150 cans containing 5,500 liters of fuel, three boats, 1,380 pounds sterling, 710 euros and various documentation. The arrests have been made 13 in the province of Cádiz and 7 in Ceuta, all of them for illegal trafficking of human beings, 7 of them have entered prison.