Spanish Police Bust Migrant Smuggling Ring Charging Thousands to Enter Melilla

According to the police sources cited by Europa Press, three members of the network were arrested, including the owner of a small boat who entered the city in mid-January. Another was arrested in Morocco and a last one is still being sought by the authorities.

The arrest took place during a crossing, disrupted by weather conditions, with 18 migrants on board the boat as well as the head of the network, of Moroccan nationality. The price paid by the migrants "varied depending on their financial capacity, ranging from 500 to more than 4,000 euros".

The organization was divided into two branches with two distinct roles: the traffickers based in Morocco were responsible for recruiting migrants and transporting them to the embarkation point on the Moroccan coast, and the Spanish branch in Melilla was in charge of organizing the trip, providing the boats and "receiving" the migrants once on Spanish soil.

The investigation is ongoing, notes the same source, noting that the Moroccan national is being held in custody pending his trial.