21 arrested in Spain for smuggling Algerian and Syrian migrants into the EU

Police officers patrol as security measures taken ahead of NATO Summit in Madrid, Spain on June 28, 2022 [Dursun Aydemir – Anadolu Agency]

Spain dismantled, on Friday, a network which was smuggling immigrants, including Syrians, from Algeria to Spain and, from there, to European Union (EU) countries, AFP reports.

The Spanish National Police, with assistance from Europol, arrested 21 suspects and dismantled the network, which smuggled people through fast boats from Algeria, across the Mediterranean Sea to Spain.

Investigations uncovered that the network trafficked at least 1,000 immigrants, including over 750 Syrians and more than 250 Algerians.

The network facilitated illegal routes for Syrian nationals through Lebanon, Egypt, Tunisia or Libya and Algeria.

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