The Spanish police announced the dismantling of a network that smuggled Syrian migrants from Lebanon across three continents and to three countries, namely Spain, Germany and Norway.
In a statement published on Sunday, August 13, the Spanish police said that in collaboration with Europol and the German Federal Police, it has managed to dismantle a criminal organization in Spain specializing in the smuggling of Syrian migrants.
Nineteen people were arrested, six of whom were remanded in custody.
According to the Spanish police, the migratory route passes through three continents, namely Asia, Africa and Europe. The smugglers would use air, sea and land routes. The price paid by each migrant was 20,000 euros, and the network had “collaborators” in other criminal organizations and received the “funds” via transfers.
According to the initial findings of the investigation, the migrants would leave Lebanon via Beirut Airport for Egypt and pay 4,000 euros each. They subsequently depart by land to Libya, Tunisia and Algeria and pay the sum of 3,500 euros. Once they arrive in Algeria, the migrants leave through the ports of Oran and Mostaghanem for the Spanish coast in exchange for 10,000 Euros. Once in Spain, the Syrians would travel to the cities of Madrid, Cuenca and Toledo (in the centre), where they hide in squalid conditions for 250 euros a week until they obtain documents allowing them to stay in Spain.
From then on, they are offered the choice of either staying in Spain or going to Germany or Norway, provided they pay the sum of 1,000 or 2,000 Euros, depending on their destination.
The news came as Pope Francis drew attention on Sunday to the plight of migrants, which represents “an open wound for humanity.” The Pope’s statement came after the sinking of a boat overloaded with migrants in the Mediterranean, leading to the death of 41 people.
