Spanish authorities, working with international law enforcement agencies, have dismantled a major criminal network accused of trafficking migrants, drugs and weapons across the Western Mediterranean.
Europol and Spain’s Civil Guard announced the operation on Friday August 7th 2026, describing the group as one of the “largest criminal organizations specializing in maritime human trafficking in the Mediterranean.”
The investigation highlighted the sophisticated and lucrative nature of criminal networks operating across the narrow stretch of sea separating Europe and North Africa.
According to Europol, the organization provided logistical support to other criminal groups involved in smuggling activities, arranging storage, transportation, refueling, maritime transfers, vessel maintenance and counter-surveillance services.
The Hague-based European Union law enforcement agency helped coordinate the investigation, which Spanish authorities launched in 2023. The operation involved Spain’s Civil Guard and National Police, along with law enforcement agencies from France, Poland and Portugal.
The investigation culminated in a coordinated operation on June 16 that resulted in 77 arrests in Spain and one in Algeria, Europol said.
Authorities also seized 18 motorboats, including high-speed vessels, along with drugs, satellite phones, a handgun and more than 25,000 euros (US$29,000) in cash.
Video released by Spanish authorities showed officers arresting suspects and counting large quantities of 50-euro notes recovered during searches.
Investigators said the criminal network operated a two-way smuggling route between Algeria and Spain.
Spain’s Civil Guard said the organization transported drugs to Algeria before using boats on the return journey to carry migrants to coastal communities in Spain.
Four people identified by authorities as alleged leaders of the network were among those arrested.
The announcement came a week after irregular migration to Spain again drew international attention when tens of thousands of migrants entered the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta amid widespread online rumors that the border was open. Most of those migrants have since returned to Morocco.
