Spain fights migrant smuggling by arresting gang
2022.10.08 10:44
Spain fights migrant smuggling by arresting gang
By Tiffany Smith
Budrigannews.com – Spanish authorities announced on Saturday that members of a gang connected to a people-trafficking network who hid Albanian migrants on boats and ferries and smuggled them from Spain to Britain were arrested.
The gang was paid between 3,000 and 15,000 euros for the perilous journey to Britain by the migrants, some of whom were children.
The Civil Guard stated that the gang has been transporting migrants from Albania to Britain since 2014; however, the number of individuals who have made the journey is unknown.
As part of a joint operation with the British National Crime Agency, seven Albanians were detained.
The migrants would set up camp close to Santander’s ports (BME:) before traveling to the ports of Portsmouth, Southampton, and Liverpool in the United Kingdom via ferries and freight shipping routes. Bilbao is in the northern part of Spain.
The Civil Guard stated:
“The concealment methods used posed a risk to the life or physical safety of the migrant, some of whom were minors.”
The unidentified alleged suspects were apprehended from October 3 to 5. On Friday, they went before a court in Barakaldo, northern Spain. Five were granted conditional bail while two were remanded in custody.
