A joint operation between the National Police and the French Police Nationale has dismantled a criminal organization that transported migrants from Alicante to the La Junquera border. The three members of the network have been arrested, two of whom are in pretrial detention, for making more than 20 trips, with an average of five people per trip, charging them 200 euros. Investigators estimate that the network would have pocketed around 100,000 euros in this way.
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The operation began in France. The French authorities detected numerous border crossings of a vehicle linked to the main suspect, who was domiciled in Alicante. Once the alert was received, Spanish investigators located and identified the main suspect and discovered that, in addition to his vehicle, there were other similar ones related to people in his circle who frequently traveled the same route: from Alicante, the capital of a province where many boats from Algeria usually arrive, to the La Junquera-Le Perthus border in the Pyrenees. Once the border control was crossed, the vehicles continued their journey on French roads and returned days later to the base point.
In just two months, between May and June, the ringleader made seven trips, always following the same itinerary. The analysis of the route and the data exchange established between the French and Spanish police allowed them to determine that the criminal network made at least twenty round trips. Once the irregular immigrant transport method was established, which has not been detailed by police sources, on one of the trips the French authorities arrested the main suspect on French territory. After the arrest, they issued a European Investigation Order for Spanish agents to carry out the entry and search of his home and access his financial information.
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Three days after receiving the order, agents raided the arrested person’s home, where they seized 3,190 euros in cash, personal and vehicle-related documents, a pack of cards in which the suspect offered his services as a taxi driver, and a set of keys to another vehicle he owned. The investigation thread led to the identification of four bank accounts linked to the arrested individuals, whose analysis will determine the total amount of money obtained illicitly, according to investigators.
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