Spanish Police Bust Migrant Trafficking Ring, Arrest 11 in Cadiz

The head of this criminal organization dedicated to drug and migrant trafficking to Spain is a 36-year-old Spanish national of Moroccan origin. Last year, he would have illegally brought in 160 people to Cadiz from Ceuta, including 60 minors who arrived in May during the migration crisis, according to police sources cited by El Pais.

The National Police arrested the suspect last week at his luxurious home, as well as 10 other people including family members and friends living in the El Príncipe and Rosales neighborhoods, according to sources in the investigation opened a year ago, after a jet ski was intercepted in Algeciras with four minors on board.

To read: Spanish Authorities Bust Major Moroccan Migrant Trafficking Ring in Ceuta

The members of the criminal network were well organized and took all kinds of security measures. They charged migrants 6,000 euros for jet ski transport, or 3,000 euros for boat transport. "If they travel by jet ski, they do it during the day and the trip to Cadiz takes half an hour; and if they travel by boat, they do it at night," the investigators explain.

The two searches carried out by the police led to the seizure of two GPS devices, seven mobile phones, various documents and narcotic substances. In one year, the 11 traffickers made more than 500,000 euros in profits, according to the investigators. They are accused of a crime against the rights of foreign citizens and against public health. Ten have already been detained.