The National Police, supported by Europol, has successfully dismantled a complex criminal network that was involved in both human and drug trafficking between Morocco and Spain. Based primarily in Ceuta and Algeciras, the group organised dangerous maritime crossings, transporting Moroccan migrants along with significant amounts of hashish and clonazepam, a drug commonly mixed with others to create karkubi, or ‘poor man’s drug’. Authorities estimate that at least two hundred individuals managed to enter Spain illegally through this network, with costs for migrant packages reaching up to fourteen thousand six hundred euros.

The criminal operation, which reaped profits exceeding two and a half million euros, involved elaborate logistics and a hierarchical structure comprising three tiers. At the top, two individuals controlled operations from Ibiza and Ceuta, while below them were inexperienced boat operators and guides for migrants. Upon arrival in Ceuta, migrants were held in unsafe conditions until payments were completed, often lacking basic necessities and facing threats.

In a separate operation, police also dismantled a drug trafficking ring based in Valencia, composed of at least twenty-five individuals from multiple nationalities. This network was discovered after authorities noticed irregularities in a legitimate business importing frozen fruit pulp, which was ultimately linked to cocaine production. The operation led to the discovery of a large-scale cocaine laboratory capable of producing twenty to thirty kilos daily, alongside significant quantities of precursor chemicals and firearms.

Overall, these operations underline the ongoing challenges faced by authorities in combatting organised crime, human trafficking, and drug-related activities. Investigations are ongoing, and further arrests may occur as law enforcement continues to enhance their efforts against such criminal activities.