Spanish police announced Sunday the dismantling of a criminal organization that smuggled Syrian migrants from Lebanon to Spain, Germany and Norway across three continents.
The police said in a statement that they had dismantled “in Spain the logistical structure of a criminal organization specialized in smuggling Syrian migrants,” in cooperation with Europol and the German Federal Police.
19 people were arrested on suspicion of “belonging to a criminal organization and involvement in illegal immigration”, and six of them were placed in pre-trial detention.
The Spanish police explained that “the migration route passed through three continents, Asia, Africa and Europe, by air, sea and land,” and each immigrant paid smugglers “20,000 euros.”
The network cooperated with criminal organizations in other countries, and was receiving money through “remittances” that enabled it to earn about 2.5 million euros.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the migrants were departing from Lebanon, passing through Beirut airport, to Egypt for 4,000 euros. From there, the Syrians pass overland to Libya, Tunisia and Algeria for 3,500 euros.
Then from the Algerian cities of Oran and Mostaganem, they are transported in boats to the Spanish coast for 10,000 euros.
Once in Spain, the migrants cross by car to Madrid, Cuenca and Toledo (centre), where they remain hidden in squalid conditions for €250 a week until they receive papers.
Once they have the documents, they can either stay in Spain or go to Germany or Norway (for €1,000 and €2,000).
Millions of Syrians have left their country for European countries, especially Germany, since the outbreak of the civil war in 2011.
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2023-08-13 20:47:38
