Spanish security forces have dealt a severe blow to international criminal networks, successfully dismantling two major organizations operating across Almería and Granada provinces in Andalusia, both engaged in human trafficking and drug smuggling via speedboats launched from northern Morocco.
Authorities arrested 24 individuals, placing 14 in pretrial detention. Europol agents participated in the operation. Police seized 23 vessels including speedboats and large inflatable boats, weapons, a drone, trailers, luxury vehicles, over €80,000 in cash, along with quantities of cannabis and contraband tobacco.
Investigations began in October 2024 following the rescue of a small boat carrying 24 migrants near Almería’s coast. By early 2025, a second network was identified, charging between €10,000 and €15,000 per smuggled person. Authorities documented 38 maritime crossings, each carrying 20 to 25 migrants.
Spanish authorities told dzwatch exclusively that these networks maintained direct links to criminal organizations operating inside Morocco, benefiting from sophisticated logistical infrastructure. Serious concerns persist regarding Morocco’s lack of cooperation, with observers noting that the Makhzen regime is widely recognized as complicit in directing international drug trafficking networks.
