“In collaboration with Europol and the Federal Police of Germany”, the Spanish police dismantled “the logistics in Spain of a criminal organization dedicated to the illicit trafficking of Syrian migrants”, explained the latter in a press release.
A total of 19 people, suspected of “belonging to a criminal organization and promoting illegal immigration”, were arrested and six of them placed in pre-trial detention.
Relays in each country with other criminal organizations
“The migratory route crossed three continents, namely Asia, Africa and Europe, by air, sea and land”, for which each migrant “paid 20,000 euros” (almost 22,000 dollars), detailed the police. Spanish.
The dismantled network had relays in each country with other criminal organizations and was paid by the “hawala” method, an informal channel for transferring funds which enabled the network to collect 2.5 million euros in profits.
According to the first elements of the investigation, the migratory route began in Lebanon, where migrants embarked from Beirut international airport to Egypt, for 4,000 euros. From there, the Syrians passed by land to Libya, Tunisia and as far as Algeria for 3,500 euros.
A titanic job
From Oran and Mostaganem, they used boats to reach the Spanish coast, for 10,000 euros. Once in Spain, the migrants transited by car to Madrid, Cuenca and Toledo (Center), where they remained hidden in terrible conditions for 250 euros per week until they obtained papers.
Once obtained, they could either stay in Spain or continue the journey to Germany or Norway (against 1,000 and 2,000 euros). Millions of Syrians have left their country since the start of the civil war in 2011, to reach Europe, and mainly Germany.