A significant people trafficking operation, accused of charging up to $22,000 to smuggle migrants from Syria to Europe, has been apprehended by Spanish law enforcement, The National reported. Spanish police, in collaboration with the German Federal Police and supported by Europol, arrested 16 Syrians and three Moroccans believed to be part of a larger criminal network operating an illicit "VIP" service.
This international network was accused of smuggling Syrians from their homeland to Sudan, Libya, and Algeria before orchestrating their perilous journey across the Mediterranean to Spain. Once in Spain, the migrants were further transported to northern European destinations, primarily Norway and Germany.
Europol stated that the network orchestrated over 68 illegal transfers, facilitating the smuggling of more than 550 Syrian migrants into the European Union. The operation was described as intricate, involving meticulous logistics, corrupt officials, and the exploitation of the Hawala banking system for financial transactions. The gang's activities spanned across multiple countries and continents, with migrants transferred between traffickers in various countries.
The complex journey from Syria to northern Europe came at a high price for the migrants, with the entire voyage amounting to over €20,000 ($22,000). The charges included €4,000 ($4,400) for air travel from Beirut to Egypt, €3,500 ($3,850) for overland travel through Libya, Tunis, and Algeria, and a final €10,000 ($11,000) for transportation from Algeria to Spain via land.
This operation was deemed a "VIP service" by Europol, as it involved an extensive route and accommodation upon arrival on the Spanish mainland. The network employed strict security measures, including surveillance at clandestine points along the coast to ensure the successful execution of their illicit operations.
Once in Spain, the migrants were charged additional fees of up to €2,000 ($2,200) for transportation from Germany to Norway, their final destinations in Western and Northern Europe. The migrants reportedly endured unsanitary conditions during their journey, risking their health from the time of their clandestine entry into Spain until their onward departure.
This successful operation follows a series of arrests targeting individuals suspected of involvement in the broader smuggling network. The arrested suspects are accused of coordinating the transfer of migrants, arranging their transportation, tickets, and onward journeys to Western and Northern European countries. The dismantling of this major people trafficking gang sheds light on the complex and exploitative nature of these operations and highlights the ongoing efforts of law enforcement to combat such criminal enterprises.
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