National Police agents have dismantled a criminal organization allegedly dedicated to trafficking irregular immigrants between Morocco and Spain. The immigrants were transported by boat from the Moroccan coast to the islands of Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.
It is estimated that the network would have allowed the arrival of several hundred irregular immigrants, generating profits of more than 75,000 euros. There are 19 people arrested, 10 of them in Lanzarote, two in Murcia, two in Cádiz, one in Almería, one in Granada, one in Huesca, one in Madrid and one in Málaga
As confirmed by the police force, the search of a house on México street in Arrecife that took place on December 3 was part of that operation.
Double structure
The investigation began with information provided by a witness who pointed to the existence of a criminal organization that, allegedly, was dedicated to introducing immigrants from Morocco to the Canary Islands.
After several steps, the agents were able to verify the existence of this criminal organization, which had two sub-structures, one based in Morocco and the other in Spain. The Moroccan branch was located on the western coast of Morocco, and was dedicated to the planning and organization of boat trips, as well as the recruitment of immigrants and reservation of places on the boats for a fee of 1,000 to 1,500 euros.
The Spanish branch, permanently linked to the Moroccan branch, was based on the island of Lanzarote. In addition to collaborating in the planning and organization of boat trips, the Spanish structure formed the logistical apparatus of the organization.
Three searches in homes in Lanzarote
It is estimated that the criminal organization would have managed to transfer several hundred immigrants from the Canary archipelago, with a profit that could amount to more than 75,000 euros. The immigrants had to pay amounts ranging between 500 and 1,500 euros. If they did not make the payment, the organization did not hesitate to hold them against their will until they made it effective.
The police operation, in which more than 70 agents have participated, has ended with the arrest of 19 people -17 of Moroccan nationality and two of Spanish nationality- who are charged with crimes of belonging to a criminal organization and against the rights of foreign citizens, money laundering and document forgery. The entry and search has been carried out in three homes in Lanzarote, in which three vehicles, eight mobile phones and various computer equipment have been seized.
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