Europol: Suspected traffickers accused of facilitating migrant journeys across Europe arrested, multiple assets seized

19 suspected traffickers accused of facilitating the secondary movements of at least 550 migrants from Spain to Germany and Norway have been arrested as part of an investigation led by the Spanish National Police, according to Europol.

While the announcement was made on Sunday, Europol referred to a series of raids that actually took place on June 20. A total of 16 Syrian and three Moroccan nationals got arrested, with multiple locations in Spain reportedly searched.

At Least $21,000 For Clandestine Journeys Across Multiple Countries

A number of assets belonging to the dismantled smuggling network were also seized, including multiple mobile phones and data storage devices, five vehicles and almost $11,000 in cash.

The suspected traffickers allegedly transferred mainly Syrian nationals via Sudan, Libya, Tunis and Algeria to Spain, and subsequently on to Germany and Norway.

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The string of coordinated raids also involved the German Federal Police, with Europol offering assistance behind the scenes.

Earlier this year, the Spanish National Police had already traced the locations of several other suspected people smugglers who were part of this network, resulting in 15 arrests.

That part of the group is now considered to be largely dismantled but is alleged to form an extension of a larger migrant smuggling network active across Europe, Africa and Asia.

Use Of Informal “Hawala” Banking Network For Money Laundering

Spanish authorities revealed they had started investigating the smuggling network in June 2022 already, during which they confirmed the suspected traffickers would pick up migrants from the coasts of Murcia and Almeria and bring them to several properties situated south of Madrid.

These locations were kept in “unsanitary conditions“, putting the migrants’ health at risk, Europol mentioned in a press release. The arrested suspects arranged flights to Germany and Norway from Madrid Barajas Airport, charging over $21,850 per migrant from beginning to end.

The smuggling network is suspected to have been operating since 2017, allegedly using the informal “hawala” banking network for money laundering.