Authorities in Spain have broken up a criminal organization accused of trafficking Moroccan migrants into the European Union, officials announced on Sunday.
According to the Spanish Civil Guard, the network facilitated illegal migration by flying individuals from Morocco to Romania. From there, the migrants were transported overland through multiple EU countries before reaching Spain, often hidden in trucks or vans.
The operation, which is believed to have run for at least two years, reportedly smuggled dozens of groups into Spain—each consisting of between 20 and 50 people. Migrants allegedly paid around €3,000 each for the journey.
Four suspects were arrested in Cartagena, located in the Murcia region of southern Spain. They now face charges related to human trafficking and belonging to a criminal organization.
Investigators believe the group was coordinated from Romania, where its leader operated as the primary link between collaborators in Morocco, Romania, and Spain. This individual was reportedly responsible for setting travel fees and organizing logistics.
To avoid detection, the smugglers used support vehicles and carefully selected border crossings with minimal surveillance, authorities said.
The operation was conducted with support from both Europol and Frontex, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, highlighting the cross-border nature of the investigation and the cooperation between EU member states in tackling human trafficking.
