A recent series of raids conducted by Spain’s Guardia Civil on June 17-19 uncovered a criminal network operating in several locations across the country. Led by a Moroccan individual, the ring included suspects from Algeria and Morocco who were living in Spain.
Investigators found that the network had acquired boats and equipment using significant financial resources, including the exploitation of legal enterprises such as marine trade firms. They also utilized hawaladars, informal brokers facilitating underground money transactions, to launder and transport illegal gains.
During the raids, which took place at eight locations including houses and industrial facilities, 14 individuals were arrested. Authorities seized 15 speedboats, ranging from 7.5 to 8 meters in length, with some boats equipped with powerful engines capable of producing up to 425 horsepower.
In addition to the boats, investigators recovered boat hull molds, nautical and electronic equipment, fuel canisters, weapons, and €68,000 in cash. The criminal network operated as a multi-cell organization with various functions, including the acquisition and manufacture of high-speed vessels, boat passage from Algeria to Spain, provision of gasoline and food, and security at crossings.
Migrants paid up to €7,000 each for a one-way passage on overcrowded boats. The organization reportedly spent over €1 million on vessels and equipment to support its operations, which extended beyond Spain to involve businesses in France and Spain for managing logistics and concealing illicit cash flows.
Europol played a crucial role in providing operational coordination and analytical support during the investigation. An expert from Europol was sent to Spain to facilitate real-time data exchange and cross-check operational information against Europol databases, providing immediate leads for investigators.
