Spanish Police Arrest 268 People for Migrant Smuggling & Human Trafficking

In this regard, the police agents rescued 130 victims of human trafficking who were subject to forced labour and sexual exploitation, SchengenVisaInfo.com reports.

“In the “Turquesa IV” operation, carried out between November 28 and December 2, police agencies from 32 countries, coordinated by the OIPC-INTERPOL, carried out actions against criminal networks dedicated to recruiting and favouring illegal immigration and trafficking in human beings, paying special attention to the routes used by these mafias within the geographical area of ​​South America and the Caribbean,” the statement issued by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior reads.

According to the Ministry, this operation allowed the dismantling of two criminal groups.

The first of these two groups was responsible for the illegal trafficking of immigrants with the use of forged documentation, victims of which were mainly of Moroccan origin. Meanwhile, the second group was a network dedicated to human trafficking and drug trafficking.

During the operational phase, the Adolfo Suarez Madrid Barajas airport was checked for flights originating from South American countries, under suspicions that the same could be used by criminal groups as a route for the introduction of illegal immigration into Europe.

Thus, a HOT SPOT was created, composed of agents specialized in the fight against human trafficking belonging to the Border Section of the Madrid Airport Police Station.

As the Ministry explains, 40 people were arrested at Madrid airport, after a total of 283 flights were checked and 83,000 passengers were identified.

Moreover, three investigative operations related to human trafficking and migrant smuggling were carried out by the General Commissariat for Immigration and Borders, in coordination with the territorial units for immigration, which resulted in the arrest of 17 people and the release of 24 victims of human trafficking for sexual exploitation.

A month ago, the National Police of Spain arrested four Neapolitan citizens, who were involved in the theft of watches from tourists.

In addition, six other persons were identified for whom the relevant European arrest and surrender warrant was requested.

Previously in September, an organization that recruited minors, mainly of North African origin, and provided them with false documents to leave the Canary Islands was also dismantled.