Lorraine Williamson
A Europe-wide criminal network that trafficked hundreds of North African migrants into Spain using dangerous backdoor routes has been brought down in a major joint operation led by Spain’s Policía Nacional and French police, with the backing of EUROPOL.
Seven arrests were made during coordinated raids in Barcelona and northern France in mid-June, culminating a 14-month investigation. Among those detained were the group’s ringleaders, logistics coordinators and drivers—key figures in what authorities describe as one of the most dangerous and active migrant smuggling rings operating in Europe today.
Hidden in vans, sealed in silence
The network smuggled over 500 people—many of them Moroccan and Algerian nationals, including children—across borders in horrific conditions. Migrants were crammed into sealed vans and lorries, hidden in false compartments with no ventilation, water or food. Some endured journeys of up to six hours across the English Channel, trapped in the backs of vehicles crossing by ferry.
Prices for the journey varied between €350 and €1,500 per person, depending on the route, with many subjected to further exploitation upon arrival in Spain, including forced agricultural labour.
A new route through Britain
Investigators uncovered a new method used by the gang to avoid detection: flying recruits in from Morocco to the UK under the guise of tourism. Once inside the country, smugglers transferred them from the UK to Calais, where they were hidden in lorries. From there, they continued by road into Spain, often arriving in Barcelona or along the southeastern coast.
The operation, police say, involved a complex network spanning five countries—Spain, France, Belgium, the UK and Morocco. It ran with military-style efficiency: structured hierarchies, strict roles, and coordinated logistics. The group is believed to have made over €500,000 in profits, using so-called “safe houses” in the Paris suburbs to temporarily hide migrants before moving them south.
Coordinated crackdown and cross-border cooperation
The arrests followed months of international collaboration through EUROPOL and intelligence-sharing across multiple jurisdictions. Between 13 and 16 June, police carried out four house raids—two in Spain and two in France—seizing over €42,000 in cash, British pounds, Moroccan dirhams, three vehicles, and extensive documentation linking the suspects to smuggling operations.
The Spanish Interior Ministry credited the success of the operation to cross-border cooperation and warned that further arrests are expected as investigators analyse communications and financial records.
The wider picture
Despite a recent drop in irregular migration across the EU, authorities remain concerned about the adaptability of smuggling gangs. Spain, in particular, remains a key entry point into Europe for migrants from North and West Africa, with traffickers constantly shifting routes to evade border controls.
This latest bust highlights how legal travel channels—like tourism visas—are being exploited to bypass traditional land or sea crossings, creating fresh challenges for immigration and law enforcement agencies.
Spain steps up efforts as EU reform looms
The case comes as the EU finalises its controversial new migration pact, aimed at strengthening border controls and cracking down on smuggling networks while offering more regulated pathways for migrants.
Meanwhile, humanitarian groups have urged governments not to lose sight of the victims. “Many of those trafficked, especially minors, are now at risk of further exploitation,” said a spokesperson for a migrant rights organisation. “The fight against smuggling must be matched by real solutions for legal, safe migration.”
Spanish authorities say they are now working with French counterparts and EUROPOL to dismantle the remaining branches of the network and support the migrants caught in its grip.