Spanish police have arrested five people suspected of operating a migrant-smuggling network that allegedly charged thousands of dollars to transport irregular migrants from Ceuta to mainland Spain.
According to Spanish police, the suspects charged migrants as much as $10,500 for boat journeys from Ceuta, the Spanish enclave on Morocco’s northern coast, to southern Spain.
Authorities said four of the suspects were allegedly part of a trafficking network that identified migrants in Ceuta, provided them with temporary accommodation in homes and garages, and later arranged their transport across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Police said the network relied on experienced boat operators who were capable of navigating at high speeds and avoiding law-enforcement patrols.
Two of the suspects were arrested in Ceuta, while another two were detained in La Línea de la Concepción, in Andalusia. A fifth suspect was reportedly remanded in custody pending further proceedings.
Police said the fifth suspect was accused of arranging the transportation of seven migrants on August 14, charging each person €8,000 for the journey. The migrants were allegedly transported in a small boat that did not meet minimum safety requirements.
The arrests come weeks after a major influx of migrants into Ceuta, during which an estimated 72,000 people crossed from Morocco into the Spanish territory by swimming or on foot.
The mass arrival in late July resulted in dozens of deaths and placed significant pressure on Ceuta’s already limited reception facilities. It also intensified political tensions in Spain and across the European Union over migration management and border controls.
Spanish authorities have not disclosed how many migrants were allegedly assisted by the smuggling network.
Most of those who entered Ceuta during the July surge have since returned to Morocco. However, thousands remain in the enclave, with some reportedly sleeping outdoors as local accommodation and reception facilities struggle to cope with the influx.
The Spanish government, led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, has announced plans to establish temporary accommodation centres in an effort to ease pressure on Ceuta’s overwhelmed shelter system.
The arrests highlight the growing role of organised smuggling networks in facilitating onward movement from Ceuta to mainland Spain, particularly as migrants who reach the enclave seek to continue their journeys into continental Europe.
Spanish authorities are continuing their investigation into the suspected trafficking operation.Focus Keyphrase